" Goodbye Mr. Fish" Part II

"Goodbye, Mr. Fish" or "Hello, new fish that looks just like Spidey." What did I do? Let's just say in retrospect, I realize I should have handled the passing of Spidey a little differently. In my head, I had imagined this beautiful conversation Cannon and I would have about the circle of life. I would explain to him about Spidey, he would be upset, I would comfort him, we would have a nice respectful commode side service and Cannon would feel much better. However, there were two factors I didn't take into consideration, Beau and Mackenzie.

I picked Cannon up from school as usual. He was talking non stop about his day, what special he had, who was the helper, and recess. Then before I could intervene, Beau turns around and says, "Hey Cannon, your fish died." (Until this point, I didn't even know Beau realized the fish was dead. ) Oh Crap!!!! The waterworks started. "Mommy, what does Beau mean, did my fish die. Oh no, I am the worst fish owner ever. Jesus is going be so upset with me. " This went on and on for the 5 minute ride home.

When we get home, I sit Cannon down on the bench in the hall. I was prepared with my circle of life speech. As he is still crying, here comes Beau around the corner carrying the glass bowl that Spidey is in. He said, " Come on Cannon, let's flush him." ( I notice that Beau's left arm is dripping wet up to his elbow, then I realize he had tried to just get Spidey of the bowl.)

Cannon looks at me and says, " What does he mean flush it. Like Nemo was flushed down the sink. That was awful. Poor Spidey can't handle that. I don't want to flush him. " I realize this is not going as planned. Then Beau, who has put the bowl down and has his elbow propping himself on the wall, says, " Cannon, fish die. That is just what they do. Let's flush him."

At this point, I am trying not to laugh. Beau is just so excited about flushing the fish. Cannon continues on how he loved Spidey and he will never see him again. Cannon really wanted to just keep Spidey, but I finally made him understand that Spidey had to be flushed.

The bathroom scene itself was one of those moments when I believe there is camera recording things like this. Cannon was still crying, but able to get out a small prayer for Spidey. " Dear Jesus, please take good care of my fish. He is red and his name is Spidey. He loves to get rewards for being a good fish and he loves to eat. Please let him know I did my best." Meanwhile, in the background Beau was still chanting, "Flush him" every 5 seconds. Mackenzie, luckily had just learned to flush the commode was hanging on the handle laughing and repeatedly flushing it. If I closed my eyes for a second it sounded like a round, you know, "Row Row Row your boat." Instead it was " Dear Jesus take care of Spidey, " "Just flush him" followed by the sound of the toilet flushing with Mackenzie's little laugh.

It was then I decided that I should have gone to the pet store and gotten a new red fish. Cannon would go to college taking with him Spidey, the fish he got when he was 6.

"Goodbye Mr. Fish"

Cliff and Claire Huxtable, as TV parents come, they are by far the best. I have always said any life lesson I need, I can find in an episode of The Cosby Show. (I could go in to much more detail about how much I love the Huxtable family, but then you may just think I am strange.)

Anyway in Season 1 episode 1, "Goodbye, Mr. Fish," Rudy's beloved fish, Lamont, passes away. Cliff decides that they will have a funeral in the bathroom for Lamont. The entire family dresses up, Cliff conducts a small service and Lamont is well... flushed.

So as I sit her are my breakfast bar staring at Cannon's red beta fish, Spidey, float on his side, I wonder what I should do. 1) Follow the lead of the great Cliff and Claire and conduct a commode side service later today? 2) Be totally dishonest with my 6 year old and go buy a new red fish while he is at school?

Let me give you the back story on Spidey life and untimely passing.....

Spidey was a birthday gift from our dear friend, Andrea. The Saturday after Cannon's birthday, Andrea stopped by. Excitedly she brings in this glass bowl with a red fish, " Cannon HAppy Birthday!" I looked at her and she responded, " What beta fish are impossible to kill." (You must understand that there is a Bostick rule of thumb-if it is going to happen it will to us.) Anyway, Cannon feel in love with Spidey and spent the first couple hours in his room "playing" with Spidey. Spidey was given tokens for good fish behavior. After awhile the new wore off, but he did love Spidey.

So what caused this untimely passing? To be honest, there were a lot of ways I thought this would happen. 1) Cannon would over feed Spidey. 2) Beau, the 4 year old, would get Spidey out to play with him 3) the boys would wrestle and knock over the bowl and little sister, Mackenzie would get the fish. ( Please note, all those were child error.) But how did it really happen?

Spidey may have been cute, but quite frankly he stunk. His bowl just stunk up Cannon's room, even with proper cleanings. Cannon had an awful cough, so I thought maybe the smell was triggering his asthma. So I decided to" properly "clean the bowl. I put Spidey in a new bowl and cleaned his old bowl and rocks with soap and water. Looking back, maybe not the best cleaning method. Or it could have been the lack of chlorine or excess chlorine in the water, maybe the water was too cold or too hot. However it happened - it was momma's fault.

Looks like I need to pick Chris's suit up from the cleaners........