Mothering Forum banner
Cancel

tell me it is ok to be obsessed with guinea pigs

4432 Views 36 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  Lillian J, 
purslaine
My middle child is obsessed with guinea pigs, although she does branch out to other animals, occasionally. Obsessed - as in spend much of her day online on a guinea pig chat board, looking at pictures of guinea pigs, or re-arranging her guineas cage.

I know US is to blame (or allows her passion - if you want to put a positive spin on things).

I worry about it occasionally. It seems like an obsession. I know if she were in school or HSed in a more structured way she would not have time to obsess over guinea pigs. We are not planning to jump ship, however.

I have also failed, somewhat, to help her expand on her interest base. I called the local SPCA (which is 45 minutes away - we are rural) to see if she could volunteer - and, nope, you have to be 16. I called a cat sanctuary (also about 45 minutes away) and the woman said yes, but then when we would call to scheduel times to visit, she kept putting us off. On a venting note - why the heck is it so hard to find volunteer opportunites where kids are welcome???

I am contemplating calling a guinea pig rescue org 2 hours away to see if we can visit. I know we will not be able to volunteer often - so I wonder if there is a point?

FWIW, she does have 2 guinea pigs.

sigh. It is February, the sun has not shined for more than a day or 2 in months, and I could use a hug. Or advice. or a kick in the USing pants.

Whatever you choose.

kathy
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
keeksmom
This post made me smile, because recently we were looking through old photos, and in many of them my dd was holding her hands up by her chest in rodent-paw fashion. She lived her life for like two years actually BEING a hamster. Like as in all day, every day, she was, in her mind, a hamster.

She is now a normal 12 year old and not at all a rodent.

She was younger than your dd during that phase, (probably 6 - 8) but just as obsessed. Everything revolved around hamsters and her pet hamster was truly her best friend during that time. One Halloween I spent two full days sewing an elaborate Hamtaro (cartoon hamster) costume.

I have fond memories of that phase, she was so passionate and absorbed in everything hamster. I think it really honed her observation skills, she is super-observent with animals and picks up on cues, she recognizes each of our 16 chickens by their voices (do chickens have voices? well, by the sounds they make).

I think the experience of immersion in a passion is invaluable. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, in fact I think having the freedom to be a little obsessed with something is one of the best things about unschooling.

Do you have 4H where you live? Here the rabbit 4-H includes guinea pigs.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
purslaine
Jumping up and down for joy .....

We totally have 4H were we live. We live in a rural farm belt!

Off to google....

Kathy

PS. Ok I googled, not suprisingly there is one here and I have a name and contact number. I have one concern though, DD is a vegan (her choice - I am an omnivore). 4H is a farming organisation, is it not? DD is opposed to factory farming. I wonder if she would be welcomed there.....

Anyone know anything about 4H?
Reply
Save
Like
Chicky2
Totally made me smile, too. My 11 yo is very into animals. For about 2.5 years that child didn't walk upright. Ok, I did make her walk properly when we were at a store or something, lol, but otherwise, it was butt-up hands and feet walking. Or loping. I'm not sure what to call it. I remember thinking that it had to be coming from her interest in animals. It was really weird, lol. Especially because she is REALLY tall (she just turned 11 and wears a size 10 women's shoe!) so she was just all long legs and arms, rofl. I had a friend who apparently really thought there was something wrong w/her, but she just didn't get my child. My dd also climbed the walls in the hallway (one leg and arm on each wall), and I think it was her daddy's influence that started that one. Anyway, back on track-sorry...she is highly in tune with animals of all kinds, and can also recognize our chickens various voices (yes, I really do believe they have voices) and wrangle goats and help our dog w/her chronic leg pain, etc....it's super neat.

Some of these phases are really long ones. Mostly they do pass and you look back on them w/fondness. Let her live and celebrate guinea pigs (it's rabbits at our house). Def. check out 4-H. We are going to start next year.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Chicky2
Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymuggle View Post
Jumping up and down for joy .....

We totally have 4H were we live. We live in a rural farm belt!

Off to google....

Kathy

PS. Ok I googled, not suprisingly there is one here and I have a name and contact number. I have one concern though, DD is a vegan (her choice - I am an omnivore). 4H is a farming organisation, is it not? DD is opposed to factory farming. I wonder if she would be welcomed there.....

Anyone know anything about 4H?
I don't think 4-H is about factory farming, but I'm really not sure. I need to ask my mom. She was a 4-H leader years and years ago.

There are alot of people in 4-H who eat meat, though. I do know that because they have all sorts of areas in the competition that have to do w/meat animals. I know this because I raise rabbit meat pens for 4-H county shows. But aren't there lots of other areas in 4-H like gardening and such?
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
keeksmom
Our year of guinea pig/rabbit 4H was all about care, breeding and showing - a vegan would not have been at all out of place. Kids were accepted at whatever interest level they had - my dd was at the pet-level of interest, she did not even want to show at the fair and was not required to. At the expo (kind of like a science fair) the exhibits were all about care, breeding, that sort of thing, nothing about butchering or anything related to eating animals, although I suppose there could be. But your contact person will be able to answer all your questions I'm sure.
Reply
Save
Like
S
2
Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymuggle View Post

I know if she were in school or HSed in a more structured way she would not have time to obsess over guinea pigs.
This is true. For that reason, I think you should set a timer for 45 minutes and each time it goes off, interrupt her activities and direct her to something else. Preferably something she's less interested in. Clearly, she has a long attention span, which you should want to do something about.


Quote:
I am contemplating calling a guinea pig rescue org 2 hours away to see if we can visit. I know we will not be able to volunteer often - so I wonder if there is a point?
Rescues often utilize foster homes. Perhaps you could take in guinea pigs while they are awaiting adoption?

Quote:
sigh. It is February, the sun has not shined for more than a day or 2 in months,
Well, that's probably HUGE. I hear spring is on the way...although the view from my window does not even hint at that...still, spring will come and with it opportunities for new activities.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Lillian J
2
Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymuggle View Post
I have one concern though, DD is a vegan (her choice - I am an omnivore). 4H is a farming organisation, is it not? DD is opposed to factory farming. I wonder if she would be welcomed there.....

Anyone know anything about 4H?
We did 4H. She'll be welcomed - I doubt whether the subject would even come up - although she might have a few uncomfortable moments at some general meeting if she hears other members tell how much they got per pound for the animals they'd raised, etc. Made us squirm a bit
. But our experience was that it was a very positive and relaxed organization that just focused on some wholesome work and learning values and the subject that was being covered in whatever class. I didn't particularly think of it as promotion of factory farming, though - seems to me there was more honoring of small farms that operated in an old fashioned way, which is a whole movement these days. It was amazing - there were a wide array of interesting classes on things that might never be found anywhere else - small engine repair, dog training, bonsai growing, and all sorts of things I can't remember. And the members were ever so much more naturally respectful, responsible, and attentive than I ever saw at a Scouts meeting! I couldn't understand why that was the case, but it was quite refreshing. Lillian
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Lillian J
3
Quote:

Originally Posted by SagMom View Post
This is true. For that reason, I think you should set a timer for 45 minutes and each time it goes off, interrupt her activities and direct her to something else. Preferably something she's less interested in. Clearly, she has a long attention span, which you should want to do something about.

Oh, wicked!
But having tea instead of coffee today, I did have to read that twice before I got it. - Lillian
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
sapphire_chan
Why would she need to expand her interests? It sounds like she has a wide scope of interests related to guinea pigs.

If you were a structured HSer you'd probably be coming up with guinea pig-themed lesson plans. As it is, you can just keep getting her access to all the guinea pig info she desires.
Reply
Save
Like
Chicky2
3
Quote:

Originally Posted by Lillian J View Post

Oh, wicked!
But having tea instead of coffee today, I did have to read that twice before I got it. - Lillian

**Snort!** I actually came back to this thread because as I was in the kitchen making a cake I realized that this was bugging me, lol! I *did* have coffee. Apparently I need more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan View Post

If you were a structured HSer you'd probably be coming up with guinea pig-themed lesson plans. As it is, you can just keep getting her access to all the guinea pig info she desires.
That's what I was thinking. Educationalese would turn that into all kinds of "lessons".

Have you joined the ACBA? That would be a great place to start.

http://www.acbaonline.com/
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
S
sorry ladies, forgot I was typing to people who don't know my tone.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
P
Just a thought to throw in --

My dh met a guy at a party who is a guinea pig judge. That was his professional occupation. If I understood correctly, he traveled all over the country judging at competitions, because there are very few qualified guinea pig judges. It was such a strange thing that it stuck with me.

So I don't know. Guinea pigs may in fact be a smart niche!
Reply
Save
Like
purslaine
3
Quote:

Originally Posted by SagMom View Post
This is true. For that reason, I think you should set a timer for 45 minutes and each time it goes off, interrupt her activities and direct her to something else. Preferably something she's less interested in. Clearly, she has a long attention span, which you should want to do something about.

This is funny - thank you.

She did go skating with us this afternoon, and is at the library as we speak, so I guess guineas have not totally overtaken her life.
It sure seemed that way this morning though, when she was mooning over a picture of "Tex the Texel (type of guinea) from Toronto." for over an hour.

Ack, even if she is obsessed - so what? She is not hurting anyone and she enjoys it.

kathy
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Lillian J
3
Quote:

Originally Posted by SagMom View Post
sorry ladies, forgot I was typing to people who don't know my tone.

I just thought at first that you'd changed your tune! Threw me for a loop.


Lillian
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
P
Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymuggle View Post
Jumping up and down for joy .....

We totally have 4H were we live. We live in a rural farm belt!

Off to google....

Kathy

PS. Ok I googled, not suprisingly there is one here and I have a name and contact number. I have one concern though, DD is a vegan (her choice - I am an omnivore). 4H is a farming organisation, is it not? DD is opposed to factory farming. I wonder if she would be welcomed there.....

Anyone know anything about 4H?
Many, but not all, kids in 4-H are from family farms. If you do some more research you will find there is a huge difference between family farm practices and factory farming.

More on 4-H here:

http://4-h.org/

And please stopping seen your daughter as someone obsessed and see her as someone passionate.
Support her passion and all the learning she is doing because of it!

Alex
( who has a family dairy farm and her a daughter that loves her guinea pigs)
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
P
Quote:

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan View Post
Why would she need to expand her interests? It sounds like she has a wide scope of interests related to guinea pigs.

If you were a structured HSer you'd probably be coming up with guinea pig-themed lesson plans. As it is, you can just keep getting her access to all the guinea pig info she desires.
Isn't this an unschooling board????
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Lillian J
2
Quote:

Originally Posted by polykow View Post
Isn't this an unschooling board????
Yes, but unschoolers have anxiety attacks too!
Lillian
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
P
2
Quote:

Originally Posted by Lillian J View Post

Yes, but unschoolers have anxiety attacks too!
Lillian
That has nothing to do with what I was quoting. I was talking about posting on creating lesson plans.
Sure I get it that some people do whole life unschooling and some only academically.
But lesson plans???
YOu may even be a very relaxed eclectic homeschooler but unschooler?
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
D
Lol, my six year old is obsessed with the movie 9. She will sit and watch youtube videos and look at google images for hours if I let her. AT least yours is semi-constructive.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Mothering Forum
A forum community dedicated to all mothers and inclusive family living enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about nurturing, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Diapering Life With a Baby I'm Pregnant Life with a Toddler Trying To Conceive

Top Contributors this Month

View All
Lisa44
tarenw
B
Recommended Communities
Community avatar for Raptor Forum
Raptor Forum
76K+ members
Community avatar for AVS Forum
AVS Forum
1M+ members
Community avatar for The BMW XM
The BMW XM
40+ members
Top