Pet Lizard Enters Home Free of Charge
“I think I’d like to have a lizard.” says my then 10-year-old son, Izzy. “Can I have a lizard?”
That’s how this not so interesting conversation began one spring day. In ‘non-approving mother mode‘, I sounded something like this, “natter natter natter natter…why do you want one of those?!” Then, “natter natter natter natter…have to take of it!” Along with, “natter natter natter natter…buy all the equipment,” and so on with me giving repeated explanations ending in important phrases about responsibility and cost, salmonella and the cats. Not my responsibility, his. Not his cost, mine.
I knew I was sounding horrible, but we had and still do have birds, cats, fish, and we did at one time have a rabbit and we’ve had a few hamsters and we don’t mind too often babysitting a dog. The kids have kept a snake once, because it appeared injured. They raised butterflies. My husband, I recall, brought home an injured crow, robin, duck and pigeon. We live in a small house. I think that we have had enough animals. I did not want a lizard for a pet. When does one draw the line between collecting the animal kingdom and keeping a pet? If I recall correctly, I may have said something about Izzy praying if he wants one of those, because that’s the only way it would happen…
Enter two of my good friends: I was visiting their house one evening, just shortly after this conversation with my son, not more than a few weeks later, and for some reason, I started to balk about the Izz wanting a lizard. Someone’s eyes and ears perked up, and out came a flow of peculiar questions that I didn’t think really mattered much to the conversation, I was ready to move on, but I answered their questions anyway. Eventually I realized why they were asking these questions, like “What kind of lizard does he want,” and “How long has he wanted one for?” They happened to know of a lizard, a gecko, which they were looking for a home for, but they wanted him to go to a good home, where he would be well looked after and appreciated, and wondered if they could they give Izz this gecko. With all the supplies, at no cost? They would arrange to bring him by at our convenience. Did I say I considered these people ‘good’ friends?
All of His Supplies, Too
The following week, a cute, innocent little leopard gecko arrived at our home, complete with all the supplies plus extras, that we could possibly need to keep him. Wow. I really did not expect my son’s wish to be carried through my door free of charge, and within just a few weeks of his request.
The way this whole lizard thing happened, I can’t help but think that God is listening to the wants and desires of people’s kids in spite of what their parents think they should have. That gift of a lizard was certainly from above, and just for my Izzy. I know for certain that my mind was set against bringing another pet into the house. I could have said ‘no’ for sure; however, I am a bit of a ‘let it all unfold the way it wants to’ type of person. I’ve learned that when I get in the way, bad things happen. My son was so happy to get that lizard, and he loves him. Why would I want to get in the way of that?
Somehow, that whole thing happened without me needing to spend hundreds of dollars on the whole setup plus the reptile, so why should I complain? Why did it happen that way, and why a lizard of all things, are questions I still ask myself three years later. I’m sure you have little things in your life that have been unreasonably good, that you have no idea of why or how they came to be. For me, this is one of those things. I’ll be pondering it for the rest of my life, I’m sure.
I should tell you, I am not a reptile lover, and I felt queasy at first about having a lizard in the house, but as you can see from his pictures, he’s really quite a handsome guy. He’s quiet and he’s tidy and very easy to clean up after. We’ve had many a good time watching him when he wakes up in the evenings. He’s very interesting to watch when he’s hungry. He likes to hunt his prey. He loves to come out of his cage to visit, and actually looks up toward the lid of his cage, which we take as a sign that he wants to come out. We’ve made an outdoor abode for him to bring him outside with us in the summer, which he really seems to like. I have come to tolerate and get along with him well, though I cannot touch his prey. Nor him. My family can, even my daughter the Jazz, but I cannot. That’s okay though. I admire him from afar, and sometimes six inches near, with glass in between us, and am very happy that he’s with us.
The Izz and the Jazz of it all
This is one of those experiences of life that there seems to be no explanation for, there is no rhyme or reason as to why it happened, why it unfolded the way it did. I wonder about it a lot. It is too coincidental, and it is a really, really good coincidence with a lot of happiness that touches our whole family. I am so happy my good friends chose us to be this gecko’s new family. For me, I was dead set against it, but I’m glad I didn’t refuse it.
Its the power of your subconscious mind. I wanted a Britax BReady stroller so bad that I subconsciously broke my 2 perfect strollers in a span of 2 weeks. I paid for a used stroller but I also got 3 large shelves to organize my basement for free. So congrats on the new pet and hope you keep up the positive thoughts 😉
I’m not one for creepy crawly things either! My wife and I were discussing this earlier and there will be nothing but cats and possibly a dog later. No snakes, lizards, spiders and especially birds! I’m shaking just thinking about a bird being loose around me.
Candy, I go through this with my wife and daughter a lot! lol we too have a small home and it currently holds 5 hamsters and two cats. We have had rabbits, dogs not to mention other species along the way. The fact of the matter in our home is that I actually love it just as much and end up either giving in or being the one to secretly pick the animal up for them. At this moment, I’m actually looking at a couple of guinea pigs… I think I’m starting a petting zoo of sorts… Great post.
Thank you Aneta! Will keep up the positive thoughts, but we will have to agree to disagree about the subconscious mind stuff. Mine’s not magnetic! I’m glad you got free shelves along with your stroller, that’s always a plus! 🙂 Have a great day.
Lol! I totally understand Jason. I don’t mind our birds for the most part, but they do squawk sometimes. They’re okay when they learn to talk, though. That’s cute and interactive, even if they can’t talk in context. It’s a really good thing the two of you are doing, deciding now what sort of pets you will have. Thanks for your comment!
Thanks Matthew…so you have a full house, too! I know what you mean by the fact that you love it, because both my husband and I can relate, and my husband more so than even me! I can appreciate your families’ big hearts of compassion for animals. I keep telling my family, if we had a farm, it would be okay to adopt more animals. And if we did live on a farm, I really would be just as excited to have more animals as they are, but for me, the reality appears very quickly when it comes time to clean cages, buy food and medicine, and feed and water everyone. It does take work to ensure everyone is properly cared for. But again as you said, it is hard to say no sometimes. If you decide on the guinea pigs, enjoy! Pets can be hard work, but they are fun and entertaining.