42 replies to this topic

[~Grammy♥2♥Hammies~]

Okay, I'll admit it. I am one of this parents that figured I could run into a pet store, buy a cage, food and a hamster and it was all good. Boy was I wrong.... And I am so glad I learned how wrong I was before I bought a hamster. I would hate to think how much damage I could have caused....

So to future parents of children with hamsters, a few lessons I learned over the course of this journey.

1. Yes, that hamster needs a bigger cage. Your child isn't just whining cause they think it is cool. It is actually needed. Those small cages are like crating a dog 24/7 or solitary confinement for a prisoner. It isn't good.

2. Diy is your friend and it will save you a lot. The Enclosure I am making has cost half of what buying one would.

3. Listen to your children. Seriously, these kids here are walking encyclopedias of hamster knowledge. Learn from their passion.

4. Do this with your kids. It has been amazing watching my own children learn and grow because of this. Not only that, we have a better relationship because I am listening and working with them.

5. Yes, it needs all those toys. It's enriching like a mobile is to a baby. This is your child's baby, the more they want for it, the more they pay attention and learn about it, the better your child will be prepared for the future.

6. Yes, those food mixes are important! The bad stuff is like eating McDonald's every day. A good food mix is very important. Do you want a healthy, long lived hamster? I thought so. Not to mention you child learning about the food mixes is forcing them to use math, science, biology. It's a freaking beginning to a future vet and we all want our kids to pull in that type of cash one day, lol

7. The amount of work you can get from your child is amazing, lol I'm sorry but it is true. Grades go up in trade for bigger cages, chores get done for new toys. Sorry kids but for us parents that is one of the biggest motivators for us.



So yeah, listen and learn with them. It will better prepare them for the future, it can bring you closer together and strengthen your relationship through the roughest years for parents and kids. The dreaded teens. And just think, this is what I have learned from this amazing group on two weeks. Imagine what I will learn tomorrow.


This topic was basically to show what cage we started out with thinking we needed to what we found out we really needed. A coworker of my hubbies gave us a cage, we are using it as a demonstration of what not to use now. Any questions?



Sorry it is blurry, was in a hurry.

[~Black Bitter Tea~]

I see your point exactly. When I was little, a classroom hamster had babies at my school and I wanted one SO badly. My mom kept telling me no, and I threw a fit for a straight week. I didn't understand at six, why she wouldn't let me take care of my very own hamster. But ten-ish years later, I do now. I don't think at six I could have properly cared for a hamster by myself. It's not that she wasn't going to help me, she was showing me that I wasn't responsible or ready for a hamster on my own. So a couple of months later after that, my grandma's dog had puppies, and both me, my sister and brother all wanted a puppy. She finally allowed us to get one, if we promised we would all take care of her. We all had different roles feeding, playing, and cleaning up after her. Getting a family pet means that not only is everyone in the family responsible in the basic care of the animal, it also means that each person learns from and loves their new family member. It can defiantly be a rewarding experience to have everyone in the family own a pet together, be it light as a hamster or large as a horse. Goodluck with your new furry friend~ ;)

[Taxonomist]

JennG79, I've been following your journey, though I haven't had the time to comment (busy few weeks).

 

Your perspective is a breath of fresh air.  

 

Full disclosure, I am 25 with no children.  I have to say the attitudes of parents (as reported by forum members) towards hamsters are frequently depressing and frustrating.  I've heard of parents ignoring, scolding, or even mocking their children for asking about altering their hamster care for the better.      I admit that I only hear one side and cannot know the full context of what goes on...but still.  I cannot fathom treating a child who wants to learn and improve this way, but it seems to be distressingly common.

 

I really hope that members on this forum are able to show this article to their parents, because I really feel that it speaks to a parent's perspective and is an excellent explanation of the needs of hamsters and the needs of their child caretakers.  

[~Grammy♥2♥Hammies~]

Thank you ever so much. I grew up with pets but my parents took care of them more than I did. As I grew up and had children of my own I always said no for one reason or another. We lived in a small apartment for a while, so there was enough room. Then we moved from Ga to Washington state back to Ga in the course of three years. In the middle of that the hubby lost his job, as well as everyone in his division on Christmas. We lost everything. Our savings, retirement, home because work couldn't be found. When we moved back to Ga it was cause of the grace of family help and we only had our clothes.... Over the last two years we have been rebuilding. It is still tight and we still have a long way to go. As a parent you feel like a failure cause you are not giving your children everything you wish you could and a pet is one of those life experiences every child needs.

Now we are more stable, still tight and I count and budget every last cent. And yet I was able to find it in the budget, with planning and creativity, to be able to pull this off. Once I opened up to my kids about our concerns they stepped up. Doing more and even giving up other wants to make sure this happens. It's been rough but it has been a learning experience and I couldn't be more proud of them because of it. I know now,because of the lessons they have learned on this journey they will be good people, responsible pet owners and amazing adults.

All because of the want for a pet. It's hard for a parent to say "I was wrong", just as hard as it is for a child to go "mom's right" but in the end we learn more from the Times when we shut up and listen than we ever will from being stubborn.

I hope this does help parents see a bit more clearly as well as to make kids take a moment to go "maybe mom and dad have more going on than we know."

Edited by JennG 79, 17 May 2015 - 09:28 PM.

[BonBunny]

[web33]

Well said from a fellow parent!
Honestly, After about 10 years of small animals,
I am as enthusiastic as my older daughter and more so in some respects!
We have been working and volunteering at a small animal rescue for over 2 yrs now and it's taught the kids so much.
So glad to see other parents here 😊

[Melodie]

Wow, very well written! I think somebody needs to move this topic to Member Written Articles, or a place where everyone can see it and show it to their stubborn parents!

 

Parents seem to be a big problem around here, as we frequently see posts from members who's parents are preventing them from giving their hamster proper care. It's sad to see, and I know its gotta be really tough for those kids who are trying so hard to properly care for their beloved hamsters. There is only so much we can tell these members to help them convince parents that what they are asking for, even the simple things like a big enough wheel or safe bedding, are beneficial to the health of their babies. I hope that this article gets put somewhere that everyone can find it and show their parents, because I think it would really help some of them to see from another parents perspective what keeping hamsters is really all about

Edited by Melodie, 29 May 2015 - 09:20 AM.

[TinyHamsters123]

Wow, I wish my mom was as opened minded as you, I'll have to show her this post  

[Bluubiird]

I just wanted to say that your DIY cage is so adorable, I'm very envious of it.

My mom has been very supportive of my hamster, though considering I'm 21 with a full time job she doesn't end up spending much of her own money on things.
She does still tend to fall into the 'hamsters don't like a lot of space' argument, but she also understands the cage minimum. She just isn't an advocate for anything more than the minimum I guess. She does think it's odd that at 20 I wanted to get a hamster, but whatever.

[HammyPlanet♥]

Thanks alot probably use that for my parents

[Lucy & Kiara]

My mom read it and asked,"What? Do you want another hamster cage or something?" Parents... Well, I tried.

[Mermaid Nico]

OMG!!!! This is amazing!!!! I need to show my parents this!!!! You go Grammy 2 Hammies, you go :P

[WackyPineapple]

Some one needs to pin this. That's all I can say.

[NikLotus]

JennG79, I've been following your journey, though I haven't had the time to comment (busy few weeks).

 

Your perspective is a breath of fresh air.  

 

Full disclosure, I am 25 with no children.  I have to say the attitudes of parents (as reported by forum members) towards hamsters are frequently depressing and frustrating.  I've heard of parents ignoring, scolding, or even mocking their children for asking about altering their hamster care for the better.      I admit that I only hear one side and cannot know the full context of what goes on...but still.  I cannot fathom treating a child who wants to learn and improve this way, but it seems to be distressingly common.

 

I really hope that members on this forum are able to show this article to their parents, because I really feel that it speaks to a parent's perspective and is an excellent explanation of the needs of hamsters and the needs of their child caretakers.  

 

I 100% agree with every thing you have to say here, Taxonomist.  I'm also so glad you did your research and made sure your kids were serious about having a pet, Grammy2Hammies (such a cute name, BTW!).

 

I'm 31, also with no children.  But when I do have a kid, I definitely will teach her/him how wonderful the love of an animal can be.  I have a full house right now with 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 hamsters.  

 

The parents that make me really mad are the ones who give their kids a pet, then dump it in a shelter when the kids get bored or don't want to take care of it anymore.  Before you get your kid a pet, you teach that kid that having a pet is a commitment.  By bringing a living creature into your home, you're agreeing to take care of it for the rest of its life.  They're not toys or other disposable objects you can throw away.

 

Thank you, G2H, for being an awesome hammy grammy. <3

Edited by NikLotus, 05 June 2015 - 09:32 AM.

[Freep]

This post makes me happy, I do not have children yet but this is exactly how I will be when I do. I love my animals and do everything for them, I am 29 and it is nice to see when other adults step up and research. A pet is a family member no matter what the price or size of it.
Your children are so lucky to have gone through this with such an open minded and caring parent.

Restoring my faith in humanity ....