Kittens and mean moms

Do you think some birthday gifts are inappropriate to give a kid?

What about this gift?

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 Maybe I'm just ornery.  I've never really been a cat lover anyway.  A few years ago if you'd have asked me what my favorite kind of cat was I'd have said flat ones. (Actually this happened, the person I said that to lost a lot of respect for me, :\  In my defense I was kidding.  I'm much kinder now.  I don't joke about the demise of cats.  I just don't need more of them.  One is enough, we have quite the prima donna of cats already- and I have the allergies to prove it.  She meows at the front door, I let her in and she walks through the house to the back door and meows to get out.  Seriously?  The cat can't walk around the house?  And those of you in my ward may remember the little visitor we had that interrupted sacrament meeting a couple years ago.  Yeah, that was a great adventure and highlight of my week.  Check it out if you want a good laugh.

Tuesday Jessica came home with a kitten that one of her friends had given her as a birthday present!  Evidently, this friend planned it before hand and had taken it to a friends house near the school so she could run over there right after school and get it to Jessica.  Luckily, Jessica's tennis match was cancelled because of rain- I can't imagine what she'd have done with a kitten during that time.  Then she snuck it on the bus to bring it home.

The second she walked in the house with it I was stunned.  Who gives a live animal without talking to the parents first?  I asked if this girls mom knew.  Evidently, she did.  I have a sly suspicion it's the mom's way of getting rid of it since her friend had originally wanted to keep it and the mom said no, but that's speculation.  Anyway, I'm the bad guy now.  We already have a dog and a cat (which I end up feeding) and just can't deal with another pet.  My husband got home moments later and, thankfully, agreed with me that we didn't need another pet.  In fact he said, "Get it out of the house quick before they name it and bond."  We didn't make it before they'd snapped some photos, but I thought the bonds were still weak.  Jessica and I took it to the pound.  They told us it would be gone quickly- people always want cute, little, "fixed" kittens.  I don't think that helped Jessica feel better about it that night, but it made me feel better.  They, too, were shocked that someone had given the kitten as a gift without my permission.  It made me feel much better about getting rid of my daughters birthday present.  I think she's forgiven me since then.  And I have to give her credit for that, I know even though she handled it well she was upset inside.  She's wanted her own pet for years.  My sweet girl kissed me good-bye in front of the kids at the bus stop this morning...her idea.  No cats were present.

Linking up with Emmy today...Go on by and see her (click the link below).  Feel free to blog about what your own kids have done to make you proud, or horrified if that's more applicable.