When I took on guinea pigs, it was a weak point in my mothering career. But what harm could one cute little guinea pig cause? Besides my daughter was crying and pointing at this cute furry brown thing. She was only two, and my experience with big NOs in our short life together was limited.

Needless to say…..

One guinea pig led to nine. That´s right. Nine.

We called it a virgin birth.

Four years later, we are down to the original guinea pig and her daughter (note they are both females - a key ingrediant in rodent care).

Now my daughter is ga ga for a hamster. In summer gym camp, they play hamsters and she´s latched on to this like peanut butter to the palette.

I´m taking the long way around a wishy-washy NO.

You could save your money and buy one.

This will buy me some time.

Then, there´s the cage. Let´s do some research first!

In addition to Rainbow tubes, water bottles and dropping trays. You can buy Hamster Toilets and even a Hamster Farewell Burial Kit for when that fateful day comes about two years down the road.

Coco, my daughter, says she´s naming the critter Squeaky.

I´m not doing so well on this am I?