If you have ever gone to a fair or carnival you have probably seen the game where you toss the ping pong balls onto a table loaded with tiny fish bowls.  Sometimes they have fish in the bowls, sometimes they keep the fish somewhere else, but the end result if you win is a goldfish in a bag for you to take home and figure out what you are going to do with it.  This has happened a few times with my daughter and I and I am glad the ping pong ball landed in the fish bowl each time.

Taking care of these fish has been a great experience for my daughters and me.  They are learning what it means to be responsible for someone else’s well-being and livelihood, they have a beautiful fish to watch at night as they are drifting off to sleep and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.  Our goldfish, Carly, started out as one of those fair fish just 1 ½ inches long and is now 5 ½ inches long and growing.  She (if it is a she) even comes to the top of the tank when you walk in the room and begs for food like a dog.  Carly is part of the family now.

Raise a fish.  Take in a hamster.  Shelter a parakeet.  Having a pet is a great thing for the whole family and provides experiences and lessons you can’t get any other way.