| | | | Dads, Degu's and Decisions |
By Glenn A. Hascall
"Dad, can the Degu's come and live with us this summer?" my daughter asked with hope sparking like Cubic Zirconia in her eyes.
I was startled at her request. I mean, we've had guests, but a family – for the whole summer? "Who are the Degu's?" I asked innocently.
"Well, they're three sisters and they will bring their own food," she replied.
"Are they your friends?" I ask.
"Sorta."
OK, now I was really confused so I asked a question learned from the game Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral – "Are these Degus human."
"No, Dad," my daughter said rolling her eyes, "they are our class pets and no one else can take them."
"What exactly is a Degu?"
"It's a relative of the Chinchilla and looks a little like a squirrel – only smaller."
"Who exactly would be taking care of them?"
"I will. I was class zoologist this year, so I know what I'm doing."
"What about when we go on vacation?"
"We can take them back to my teacher's house and she'll take care of them until we get back."
"You've really thought this trough."
"So can we? Pleeeeeeeease!"
Being a rather astute father and husband I considered her words and said, "Ummmm, what does your mom think?"
Now that last statement may sound like a copout, but the truth is our children will pit us against each other whenever they can. Don't be surprised if, when you child receives an unfavorable response from your spouse that they will come to you with the same request in hopes of a more favorable answer. In the end if you say yes and your spouse has said no your child may get their way and your spouse is unhappy with you.
So when I ask my daughter for more information I really want to know what may have already been the verdict so my wife and I can present a united front. It should be a rare occurrence that a decision made by one parent is intentionally overturned by the other.
Your child can learn to play you like a fiddle, but for family harmony always seek more information. Family decisions need more than one voice.
By the way the Degus did come to live with us and, true to her word, my daughter took great care of these enjoyable balls of fur and the stress of having divided parents was removed because more information was the rule rather than the exception.
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