Pets are fun!

Ever since the kids started back to school it has been an uphill battle to get them to bed on time.
Last night was no exception.
I had managed to round everyone up and get them upstairs, which I consider a small victory, and was just wrangling Angelina into the bathtub when my son Antonio called excitedly from his room, "Mom, come here, HURRY!"
He was giddy to find out that his birthday present, a pet rat named Clover, was indeed feeling more comfortable in her surroundings after a week in our house.
Comfortable enough to try squeezing through the bars of her cage. (The cage I found as a "deal" on Craigslist only to find it was a two hour drive round-trip to pick the darn thing up!)
Tonio decided on a pet rat because he had read they are very smart and sure enough, Clover is a clever one, gaining her freedom after only a handful of attempts.
If there is something to be thankful for in all of this, it is the fact that we live five minutes away from a 24hr SuperWalmart and so off Tim went at 9:00 pm, to bring back a brand new hamster cage. So much for my Craigslist "deal".
Around 11:00 pm, after a bit of cursing and realizing I was reading directions in the wrong language, the cage was together, Clover was stuffed inside (it's a bit of a tight fit), and the kids were finally asleep.
What would I do without the unpredictability of pets to keep me on my toes!
Clover is the newest member of our pet family, pushing the total to six.
Which means I am only a pet or two shy of becoming eligible for a Wifeswap episode, as long as the next pet is a goat or something.
The rat joins two very neglected fish, Emilio's very low maintenance gecko and two dogs with varying degrees of behavioral issues.
I was under the impression that this little rat would be fairly low maintenance as well.
Immediately after Tonio brought her home she looked around and then promptly went into her little hut, filled the doorway with stuffing and barricaded herself in there for several days.
As of last night, though, all bets are off. I think we have a wild one on our hands, which thrills the kids to no end.
I am hoping being a pet owner will teach the kids' compassion and responsibility.
I don't know how that is working, but I'll tell you, it sure has increased my responsibilities!
Many a night ends with me snuggled under the warm covers only to have to climb out and yell downstairs to Tim, "Would you mist the gecko, please?"
Angelina reminds me she is next in line for her own pet and I have told her when she turns eight, she may get something, too.
To which she responded, " Oh, goody! I want a tarantula! They are SOOOO cute!"