#1's got crabs!

**hadassahchana**[$] · #1 05-16-2007, 08:04 PM

You know how when they whine and beg for something, and you tell them that no matter how hard they beg, you will never ever buy it for them? And then, you know how no matter how hard they beg, with those totally adorable blue eyes and sweet smile, you harden your heart and refuse anyway?

I don't. I tried, really I did. But, #1 has never been the kind to beg for something very often. And, when he has begged, he has not ever given up. He certainly chooses his battles wisely. Sigh. That's what you get for parenting consistantly and...well, choosing your battles wisely.

#1 has wanted crabs for quite a while. Like, since we went to Florida last year. While we were down there, it was easy to refuse- after all, who wants to spend the last half of the trip home in a car filled with the odour of decaying crab wafting through the AC vents? Not me, and luckily, not #1. But once we got hime again, he talked constantly about crabs. Collected crab websites. Joined an email list for crab owners, but then had to quit, because in his words,"It was just too depressing being the only person on the list who didn't have crabs".

Anyway, school started and I thought he'd forgotten about crabs. No such luck. After the unfortunate Fishstick II and Tartar Sauce passed on, we were wandering around Petsmart when he spied the aquatic crab tank. He asked for crabs. I said no. He begged for crabs. I still said no. He sulked. I was cruel and heartless, but I bought dogfood, not crabs.

I went home, read all about crabs and then made my shopping list of everything a hermit crabitat would need and began laying in supplies. So, a week or two before his birthday, he reminded me that no large parcels had arrived in the mail, and that crabs would make a great birthday gift. I told him no again. He sulked, then said,"But I want a crab. I need a crab. I'll take really good care of it". Good grief, he was supposed to say those things when he was 12, not nearly 20. But, I still refused. He was upset.

On his birthday, I brought down the assortment of boxes, and gave him the biggest one first. He opened it, and looked puzzled as he held up a large bag of sand.

"I thought it would be really fun to do a craft together, like at Michael's or something,"I chirped. He looked surprised, but then fixed his best suck-it-up grin. The same one he uses when eating an MRE. I managed not to smile.

The next package was small and very light. He opened it and took out two dried sea sponges. "For the crafts class!" I pointed out. He managed not to sigh heavily.

Finally, the third box contained the food dishes, hiding log, coconut bark and bottles of water conditioner for hermit crabs, along with a how-to book I bought. This time, he looked stunned in a good way. The 'yay, her head injury really didn't ruin my birthday' kind of look. I sent him upstairs to get the large glass aquarium I'd hidden in my room, and then sat back and watched as he happily assembled the crabitat. That was one happy kid!

Of course, instead of getting an early start making the food for his party, we had to drive to Petsmart right away to pick out some crabs, and then we all sat and watched them for an hour after we got them installed in their new home. They seem happy. #1 seems overjoyed. The cats cannot believe their good luck. And I am absolutely sure that this begging thing will not work ever again. At least, not until he uses those adorable blue eyes on me again...

**lynnzop**[$] · #2 05-16-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

The 'yay, her head injury really didn't ruin my birthday' kind of look.

Great story, but that line made me cackle.

Happy birthday (late) #1!!!

**drmomentum**[$] · #3 05-16-2007, 09:17 PM

Leslie2k · #4 05-16-2007, 10:32 PM

Sounds like a lot of fun

**theworm**[$] · #5 05-16-2007, 10:34 PM

You're a good Mommy, but I'm not sure the "#1 has crabs" is something he wants you advertising on the web.

*emeleel* · #6 05-16-2007, 11:28 PM

You'd think he'd have learned after the bo incident, wouldn't you?

**hadassahchana**[$] · #7 05-16-2007, 11:48 PM

LOL! But, I can't believe you remember that, Melanie!

*emeleel* · #8 05-17-2007, 12:00 AM

LOL, how could I not - that's one of the most clever gift-giving ideas I've ever seen!

*emeleel* · #9 05-17-2007, 12:05 AM

Oh, this reminds me of an Instructables I read a while back - a clever way of presenting a small gift:

instructables : Lucky Charms iPod Nano Gift Box

**hadassahchana**[$] · #10 05-17-2007, 12:14 AM

That is so cute! I need to file that away for when I need it.

**pippadaisy**[$] · #11 05-18-2007, 12:18 AM

When we honeymooned on one of the GA barrier islands, I had some crab pets for a little while. G caught them in a crab trap. I refused to eat them because they were cute. G had no such issues. We have pictures of him eating my pets.

**lynnzop**[$] · #12 05-18-2007, 12:59 AM

I have just one question. Do you need name suggestions?

Cakes
With Drawn Butter
With Lemon
Steamed
Stuffed

Enquiring minds want to know (besides, I am trying to drill Jeremy on the names of all your animals and boys. So far, he has accomplished only #4, because he thinks he has the coolest name ever

)

**hadassahchana**[$] · #13 05-18-2007, 02:07 AM

G ate your pet crabs??

If it's any consolation, I couldn't have eaten crabs that look like crabs even before we bought these guys. They have such cute little googly eyes. and they look like bugs. Giant, seafaring bugs. Like lobsters. Bleah.

I think I'll become a vegetarian. Soys don't have cute googly eyes or look like bugs.

**pippadaisy**[$] · #14 05-18-2007, 02:09 AM

I think Imitation and Meat would be good names.

Or Legs. Or Trap.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #15 05-18-2007, 02:11 AM

Lynn, he's named two. The really big one is called Cookie Monster, because he adores hermit crab cookies. He'll even steal them from the other crabs. Then, we have another one called The Bat. This is because he climbs up the side of the aquarium and then hangs upside down from the mesh top. He also hangs upside down from the hygrometer on the inside of the crabitat. In fact, Poe got the first lesson in how to treat crabs when she became oeverly excited by seeing The Bat hanging from the top of the tank. She poked at him with her toes, and he pinched her. She was Not Impressed.

*emeleel* · #16 05-18-2007, 11:03 AM

Who'd a thunk silly little hermit crabs could put Miss Poe in her place?

**soxfan**[$] · #17 05-19-2007, 07:06 PM

Cindy, I think you live next door to Unseen University. It'd explain why nearly every single animal who comes into your house immediately develops a personality!

**hadassahchana**[$] · #18 05-19-2007, 08:03 PM

LOL! I'm sitting here waiting for an email from someone from the hermit crab association. One of the crabs is a streaker! He takes off his shell and wanders around the crabitat. He's not shopping for a new shell, he isn't ill, at least not apparently, but he just seems to enjoy walking around in his birthday suit. This is apparently not the thing to do if you are a hermit crab. It's certainly not a good survival strategy for hermit crabs in the wild, since soft squishy things with no shells get eaten.

**pippadaisy**[$] · #19 05-19-2007, 08:06 PM

Here, Cindy:

HERMIT-CRABS.COM

**hadassahchana**[$] · #20 05-19-2007, 10:35 PM

Oh wow! That's the info half of the site I found. I managed to find the crab forum and began talking to people, but you actually found the info I need. Thanks!

**pippadaisy**[$] · #21 05-19-2007, 10:55 PM

I felt bad for the poor little naked seabug.