why this hobby is good for families

[daisy]

So at the frag swap, i picked up a non-photosynthesizing red gorgonian (I have named it george) from House of Fish. I love this animal - its color and shape are just SO cool, and it adds a real bit of coral character to the tank...

I also got a LOT of other stuff.

so my daughters, who are 5 and 7, see the tank the next day after I've put everything in, and they're all excited about all the new animals - they ask for all the names, ask me what everything eats, worry about whether each coral will get enough light and enough flow (they use the word "flow")...

The next day, my 5-year old starts screaming to me to come see something in the tank - something about aptasia. I come to the tank and she's looking at, pointing at george.

"your new coral is covered with aptasia!" she says, and she is truly sad about this. i look and see that george has a bunch of polyps open - not aptasia, but beautiful white polyps extended...

so i had a great conversation with Sara about how the shape of aptasia and the shape of coral polyps are pretty much the same because that shape works in the sea. she totally got it. five years old and she understands more about the animals in the sea than i did ten years ago!

when i got into this hobby, i did it for me, but now I continue to do it for me and for my daughters. every day i see them staring at the tank and I KNOW that it is only good!

happy reefing, everyone!

 

[Quang]

you're a good mom.

 

[House of Laughter]

precious - every moment of that should be cherished -

House

 

[JLAudio]

Thats an amazing story, maybe a baby nano for her xmas gift? Just a thought

 

[masterswimmer]

Tahl, great story......as usual. Now you have to teach them that each of them are like sponges! See if they can get that analogy

R

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

:biggrin: Starting them off early is a great thing! Good Job Tahl !!

 

[jejton]

I tell my wife the same thing - its all about our baby's education. Actually when I first took him to the aquarium at 6 months old, he would nudge people out of his way if they were blocking the exhibits and it was the one thing that calmed him down when he was colichy.

 

[Tito]

Just be careful with the toxicity of some corals around the children.

EDIT: LOL ooohhh mom - get your hands out of that tank!

 

[inkblue]

:grouphug: famiLy at home and reeF famiLy...

 

[daisy]

...in terms of toxicity - the kids KNOW that they are NOT allowed to even THINK about getting their hands wet!!!

...if only their mom ascribed to the same philosophy....

 

[nikkibabee]

My cousin Emma (3 years old) who I babysit absolutely LOVES fish. I can not wait to get my tanks up and running so that she can come watch my tanks. Every week we go to the museum and she stands infront of the fish tank the whole time. She is getting a beta for xmas..

 

[EmilyT]

that is so adorable! your daughter is very intelligent.

 

[NaCl H20]

That's a great story. We have a 2.5yr old daughter that loves the tank as well, and since it's an in-wall when she sees me looking in one side of the tank she runs to the opposite side to wave to me, "Hi Daddy!"- an aquarium version of peek-a-boo. That and one time when I arrived home from work, she ran up to me and said, "Daddy, you need to help the sn..sn..snail!" Apparently my wife and her noticed a snail that was upside-down on the sand bed during the day. But it was the intensity and concern in her face that was priceless. Anyway I would agree this is a great hobby for families.