Slugs are Not Pets!

Summer at the cottage means long days riding bikes and exploring our neighborhood for Evan. It also means playing 3 days a week with other kids at kids club. This was the last week and I thought Evan might come home with a memento of his time there. He did bring something home but it was NOT what I expected. He didn’t bring home a picture or a craft. Nope. He brought home….

SLUGS.

He asked for a jar (without telling me for what). I handed one over and he brought it home full of slimy, nasty slugs. He then proceeded to cover the top with aluminum foil with holes poked in it. Add a bit of grass to the bottom and we had a slug habitat.

Yay.

Now don’t get me wrong, I had my share of critters as pets when I was a child. I love catching tadpoles in the creek, a bucket containing a turtle was never far away and lightening bugs in a jar made a fantastic nightlight. Slugs, however, are not pets. Nope. Not even a little bit.

Evan was excited, though, so I decided to let it go. Until….

Me: Evan, come here!
Evan: I’m right here….
Me: No come look. I am in the kitchen.
Him: What?
Me: *Pointing at the slug crawling across the floor* Your pet escaped. It’s time for them to go outside (instead of in a jar on my kitchen counter).
Evan: You NEVER let me keep pets!
Me: *points at the dog*
Him: Not the same thing.
Me: I don’t think you understand the definition of “pet”.

Yep, I had a slug crawling across my kitchen floor. I can overlook a LOT of things but a slug on my kitchen floor? Not likely. So I yelled and Evan pleaded. I put on my “Meanest Mommy EVER” hat on and said “They HAVE to go!”. I did throw him a bone, though, and said he could put them in my flower bed. He was not happy but he set them free.

Fast forward to yesterday. He went to check on the slugs. He came in crying. “Mama! YOU MADE ME KILL THEM. BOOOHOOOHOOO!” Yep. I am winning mom of the year again this year too. Doesn’t this remind you of when we killed Elmo and I murdered the caterpillar. I am WINNING at this mom thing for sure.

Sigh.