If your hamster ever dies, think of a good cover story before you tell the kids.

[HarperRose]

Last night dh had the bigger kids at church w/ him. (I stayed home w/ the baby because he's not feeling well.) I was picking up the house a little bit and I went to feed the hamster. She didn't move. I blew on her. She still didn't move. I poked her gently w/ something. Still nothing. Then I caught that odd whiff of dead animal.

Then dh and the kids walked in the door. Literally the same minute I realized the hamster was dead. DH sees the look of distress on my face and asks what's wrong. "The hamster's dead!"

OH MY GOOOOD!!!!!! The kids were standing right there. I was so surprised about the hamster's death I didn't even have time to think of a good cover story for the moment. I would have told them today after school or something, not right before bed!

DD (6 yrs) burst into tears. DS (7 yrs) was shocked, but ok.

It took a good hour and then some to settle them down for bed, though. And then dd fell asleep in my bed and ds fell asleep in a sleeping bag on the floor.

Sweet, sweet ds offered to buy a new hamster for dd.

I'm over the shock now. But as a PSA, please have a good cover story in mind should one of your pets ever die. And don't tell the kids the second it happens. Yeah.

[channelofpeace]

Funny/Tragic Hamster story.

My sister and BIL got my three nieces (13, 11 and 8) two hamsters that they were told were both girls. Um, they weren't and there were ten baby hamsters born. They separated out the Dad Hamster and left the babies and Mom in the same cage until they weaned. About a week later (because they didn't want more baby hamsters) they put the 5 boys in with Dad Hamster and left the 5 girls in with Mom Hamster. Everything was well for about 2 weeks.

My sister and dns were away for the evening and my bil went into the girl's room for an unrelated reason. Something about the hamsters caught his eye. He went over and surveyed the situation. The Dad hamster must have felt threatened, because he, um, killed the boys and ate their heads

Blessedly, it was my bil and not my nieces that found them! When they told the girls, my oldest dn was pi$$ed that the Dad would do that. My youngest dn was sad, but composed. But my middle dn (who has a serious case of middle child syndrome) wailed, "But my pets always die before Sophia's! (oldest dn)" There was great trauma and resentment at Dad Hamster.

[sapphire_chan]

We had a hamster that would fake his own death--i.e. would sit absolutely still and not react to anything but actually being touched--when we'd go away for the weekend. At one point I was actually sitting and crying on the couch as dh went to get a bag to put him in, but he was fine.

[HarperRose]

Oh that is horrible!!!!! Those poor baby hamsters!!! And the poor kids!!! I'm so glad the grown ups came upon that sight first.

My dd has middle child syndrome, too.

I posted here once about a massive toilet flooding issue that we were having. And the same night the hamster went missing. We were a little concerned that perhaps the hamster caused the flooding, if ya know what I mean...

No. She was fine. She got lost in the couch. That thing had way more lives than any cat.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

We had a hamster that would fake his own death--i.e. would sit absolutely still and not react to anything but actually being touched--when we'd go away for the weekend. At one point I was actually sitting and crying on the couch as dh went to get a bag to put him in, but he was fine.

Wish I could have had a death-faking hamster last night. It would have saved some tears from a 6 yr old.

[Baby Makes 4]

Oh oh oh - I've got a terrible hamster story too.

One morning I noticed that the hamster's water bottle was empty so I called my son in and gave him a stern lecture about caring for one's pets. I told him that hamsters (like all animals) will die without water and obviously he didn't want that to happen so he better make sure that Buddy always had water.

So he fills up the water bottle and then goes to pet Buddy and sure enough - Buddy's dead.

Of course Luke thought it was all his fault since I had just told him that empty water bottle = dead hamster. I felt like the worst mother ever.

Buddy was 3 years old so he likely died of old age but I've never been able to convince Luke of that.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Justthatgirl

Wish I could have had a death-faking hamster last night. It would have saved some tears from a 6 yr old.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Baby Makes 4

I told him that hamsters (like all animals) will die without water and obviously he didn't want that to happen so he better make sure that Buddy always had water.

So he fills up the water bottle and then goes to pet Buddy and sure enough - Buddy's dead.

Ouch. for you too.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by Baby Makes 4

Oh oh oh - I've got a terrible hamster story too.

One morning I noticed that the hamster's water bottle was empty so I called my son in and gave him a stern lecture about caring for one's pets. I told him that hamsters (like all animals) will die without water and obviously he didn't want that to happen so he better make sure that Buddy always had water.

So he fills up the water bottle and then goes to pet Buddy and sure enough - Buddy's dead.

Of course Luke thought it was all his fault since I had just told him that empty water bottle = dead hamster. I felt like the worst mother ever.

Buddy was 3 years old so he likely died of old age but I've never been able to convince Luke of that.

That's what happened to us!!! I was filling her water bottle!!!

I had to convince my kids that she was old. But she was only a year and a half. I thought they lived for 2-3 yrs.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by Justthatgirl

I'm over the shock now. But as a PSA, please have a good cover story in mind should one of your pets ever die. And don't tell the kids the second it happens. Yeah.

I'd never lie to my kids about a pet dying. I could see getting the kids to bed and telling them the next day after school, but what are the chances of things being timed the way yours was? Hardly enough reason to create a "cover story".

Originally Posted by milkydoula

About a week later (because they didn't want more baby hamsters) they put the 5 boys in with Dad Hamster and left the 5 girls in with Mom Hamster.

I think a better PSA is "never buy pets unless you research them, and if you end up with an unexpected litter, do even more research about their care before they reach maturity! Male hamsters can never, ever share a cage, unless they're litter-mates and the cage is adequately large. In the wild, the sons would have "staked out their own territory" when they were old enough to leave mama, and never would have co-habitated with dad. Hamsters aren't "fathers" they're alpha males defending their turf.

If they'd researched basic hamster care before removing the boy hamsters into "dad's" cage, this could have been prevented.

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

We had a hamster that would fake his own death--i.e. would sit absolutely still and not react to anything but actually being touched--when we'd go away for the weekend. At one point I was actually sitting and crying on the couch as dh went to get a bag to put him in, but he was fine.

Originally Posted by Baby Makes 4

So he fills up the water bottle and then goes to pet Buddy and sure enough - Buddy's dead.

Of course Luke thought it was all his fault since I had just told him that empty water bottle = dead hamster. I felt like the worst mother ever.

Buddy was 3 years old so he likely died of old age but I've never been able to convince Luke of that.

[onlyzombiecat]

It can be hard to deal with a child's grief.
I'm sorry about your hamster.

I have told dh privately before telling dd the sad news about a pet's death and waited to tell dd until a better time. If she had noticed and asked I would never lie to her about what had happened.

[lesley&grace]

My Tragic Hamster Story:

I got a hamster for my 9th birthday and he lived for almost 2 years. I had my friend over to visit and it was the first time she was over to my house so I wanted to show her my hamster. I took off the top part of the cage and picked up my pet...and at that moment realized he was dead. My friend realized it at the same moment and said "Uh...I don't think he's sleeping"

I screamed....

And THREW the hamster.

It barely missed my friend. I took off running out of the room, and my dad who had heard my scream met me on the stairs. I leapt up into his arms, crying hysterically. He looked at my friend (because, clearly I had all my limbs and so did she, therefore he had no idea why I might be losing my sh*t) and she said "Her hamster died" and he said "oh" and started making shushing noises and rubbing my back. Then I wailed out the real reason why I was so upset

"It was dead and I touched it! I TOUCHED A DEAD THING!!!"

Once I was calm, we had a nice burial for my pet. But I still have not forgotten how the hamster felt in my hand or my absolute horror that I was holding it and it was dead.

Although...I can kind of laugh about it now.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I'd never lie to my kids about a pet dying.

That's not what I'm saying. I was asked point blank, "What's wrong?" If I'd had time to think about it I would have told dh, "Oh, nothing." and then told him after the kids were in bed so that they could have gotten a decent night's sleep. So yeah, a quick cover story would have been good to have.

I could see getting the kids to bed and telling them the next day after school, but what are the chances of things being timed the way yours was? Hardly enough reason to create a "cover story".

Saving my daughter from certain heartbreak is always a good enough reason for me to create a cover story until a later date/time when I know she'll have adequate time to process.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by onlyzombiecat

It can be hard to deal with a child's grief.
I'm sorry about your hamster.

I have told dh privately before telling dd the sad news about a pet's death and waited to tell dd until a better time. If she had noticed and asked I would never lie to her about what had happened.

Thanks. DD needs the hug -- I'll pass it on.

And yeah, that's exactly how I would have handled it, ideally. It's just that the timing was bad. Y'know?

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by lesley&grace

"It was dead and I touched it! I TOUCHED A DEAD THING!!!"

Once I was calm, we had a nice burial for my pet. But I still have not forgotten how the hamster felt in my hand or my absolute horror that I was holding it and it was dead.

Although...I can kind of laugh about it now.

OMG YES!!!! I wanted dh to deal with it immediately, but it was like 10PM and he thought I was off my rocker for even dreaming that! He put her outside on the porch for now. He gets to be the undertaker later.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by Justthatgirl

That's not what I'm saying. I was asked point blank, "What's wrong?" If I'd had time to think about it I would have told dh, "Oh, nothing." and then told him after the kids were in bed so that they could have gotten a decent night's sleep. So yeah, a quick cover story would have been good to have.




Saving my daughter from certain heartbreak is always a good enough reason for me to create a cover story until a later date/time when I know she'll have adequate time to process.

OK, I get it now. It was just a weird phrasing in the title.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

OK, I get it now. It was just a weird phrasing in the title.

Ohh, ok. Yeah. Sorry.

[flapjack]

FWIW, we had a prematurely dying hamster too. I think average life expectancy is only 2-3 years in a house with no children, personally...

[elizaveta]

Originally Posted by lesley&grace

My Tragic Hamster Story:

I got a hamster for my 9th birthday and he lived for almost 2 years. I had my friend over to visit and it was the first time she was over to my house so I wanted to show her my hamster. I took off the top part of the cage and picked up my pet...and at that moment realized he was dead. My friend realized it at the same moment and said "Uh...I don't think he's sleeping"

I screamed....

And THREW the hamster.

It barely missed my friend. I took off running out of the room, and my dad who had heard my scream met me on the stairs. I leapt up into his arms, crying hysterically. He looked at my friend (because, clearly I had all my limbs and so did she, therefore he had no idea why I might be losing my sh*t) and she said "Her hamster died" and he said "oh" and started making shushing noises and rubbing my back. Then I wailed out the real reason why I was so upset

"It was dead and I touched it! I TOUCHED A DEAD THING!!!"

Once I was calm, we had a nice burial for my pet. But I still have not forgotten how the hamster felt in my hand or my absolute horror that I was holding it and it was dead.

Although...I can kind of laugh about it now.

I had a similar thing happen to me at about the same age. I had a kitten and I *loved* it. It was my cats only kitten and all the others in the litter hadn't made it and so I was very careful with him. I remember coming into my room to grab him off the bed to "take him for a walk" and he when I picked him up his little body was all stiff. I was so afraid I threw him down on the ground and started crying and I was really upset and ever since then I have a fear of finding something stiff. Even my daughter! I am so afraid that I still wake up in the middle of the night and every time I try to feel her breath I'm afraid that she'll be stiff! :S Such a silly thing, but it's scared me so much since then!

[Liquesce]

When I was about 6 or 7 I had a hamster that ate her own young. When I was in the third grade our class had a pet hamster which got out and was accidentally fatally stepped on by one of the other kids.

Coupled with this thread, I'm beginning to think hamsters are just not the best animals to have around kids.