Despite my best efforts, the kids still refuse to call our resident toads anything other than "frogs' or "froggies," but of course we're not terribly concerned about it. Today a toad made what amounted to a horrible error in judgment when he followed the fight or flight instinct rather than simply holding still in his completely obscured position under the plant life.
I gently collected him and called to the kids who came running to see the froggy. They practically knocked me over as they competed to get the best view. They each got to touch him and compare his bumpy and rough head to his smooth belly, watched him blink, and asked why he kept making "that funny sound" as his throat moved in and out. I explained that he was likely scared half to death and thought we were going to eat him, which did nothing to deter either of them from wanting to hold him.
Norah bravely tried first, smiling ear to ear until Mr Toad leaped from her hands and made a frantic attempt to reach the cover of the garden's growth. I pounced on him, knowing Justin would go bananas if he didn't get to hold him before he was lost. Justin took his turn, with the same result. He's still a bit unnerved by living creatures and wasn't terribly keen to retrieve him.
He escaped Norah again, but her fear was completely gone and she chased him all over the yard, catching him several times as he protested with loud croaks. Eventually Justin followed her lead and the duo made quite a sight as they scrambled about all over and again.
I finally took pity on Mr Toad and insisted they should go together to release him from the big stone in the garden. Knowing Justin's love of throwing, I was very specific in my instructions, hoping I wouldn't have to explain the end of the life cycle again today. The toad hopped into the water and swam as fast as he could in the opposite direction. Both kids stayed on the stone and watched after him for a long time. Eventually Justin's hands and eyes strayed from the toad and examined the rocks, the water's surface, and the lily pads making sure to touch everything. I anticipated the usual barrage of questions, but was pleased and surprised to see both Justin and Norah silently observing, touching, smelling, thinking, and learning.
Despite my best efforts, the kids still refuse to call our resident toads anything other than "frogs' or "froggies," but of course we're not terribly concerned about it. Today a toad made what amounted to a horrible error in judgment when he followed the fight or flight instinct rather than simply holding still in his completely obscured position under the plant life.
I gently collected him and called to the kids who came running to see the froggy. They practically knocked me over as they competed to get the best view. They each got to touch him and compare his bumpy and rough head to his smooth belly, watched him blink, and asked why he kept making "that funny sound" as his throat moved in and out. I explained that he was likely scared half to death and thought we were going to eat him, which did nothing to deter either of them from wanting to hold him.
Norah bravely tried first, smiling ear to ear until Mr Toad leaped from her hands and made a frantic attempt to reach the cover of the garden's growth. I pounced on him, knowing Justin would go bananas if he didn't get to hold him before he was lost. Justin took his turn, with the same result. He's still a bit unnerved by living creatures and wasn't terribly keen to retrieve him.
He escaped Norah again, but her fear was completely gone and she chased him all over the yard, catching him several times as he protested with loud croaks. Eventually Justin followed her lead and the duo made quite a sight as they scrambled about all over and again.
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