Just Call Me, 'Mrs Frog Killer'

I don't do well with all things creepy, crawly and slimy. But as the mother of 3 little boys I am slowly getting over my issues. Especially in the whole frog catching department.

Last summer when Hayden caught a frog I ran screaming into the house and locked him out until Jeff got home (which was about 20 minutes later). Hayden would try and show me the frog and I would screech at him to get it away even though there was a glass door between us.

This summer, I feel like I have made real progress. I am able to look at them without screaming. I can even show Hayden where to find them. I am not up to touching them yet but baby steps, baby steps.

I always kind of feel bad for a frog once Hayden finds it. I tell Hayden to be gentle and careful with it so that it won't fall. I try and keep Jake and Quinn from poking the poor thing to death. I tell Hayden to cup his hands loosely so that its not squished.

But even though they try, they are kids. The poor frog is dropped, poked at, held by one leg, squished and so on.

I can't help but feel sorry for the poor thing. I know that it must totally hate being in the hands of these children. So I do my best to make it comfortable.

I encourage Hayden to make it a home and let him rest. I also encourage Hayden to let the frog go went we go back inside so that it can find its family and friends. Most of the time Hayden agrees but makes sure his protests are heard loud and clear.

But today, Hayden found a frog, he made it a home and when he was suppose to let it go, but he did not.

During nap time, I noticed the poor frog still captured in its boy made home. So I walked outside and took off the lid, thinking that the frog would just hop out and go on its merry way. Hayden would just think that the frog escaped and all out be right with the world.

As I went about my day, I totally forgot about the frog. That is until Hayden comes running into the house, holding the darn thing saying, "Mom! Mom! Look at my frog. There is something wrong. He is all hard and stiff and he is not moving."

Right then, I lost all progress that I had made this summer. I screech and screamed at him to get that dead frog out of the house, "Gross Hayden! We don't touch dead animals!" Then I grabbed him and scrubbed him clean of his frog filth.

After my my freak out was over, I began to think about what happened. I guess just opening the lid on the frog house was not enough. The only the that did was allow the hot sun to pour in and literally cook the frog.

Oops.

Sorry, Mr Frog. I did not mean for you to get cooked in the afternoon sun. I was trying to help, really. I can't help it if you didn't jump out of there but in your defense, you probably had brain damage from all the times you were dropped by my children and didn't know what to do. Sorry, I should have thought about that. But I hope that you are comfortable now.

Rest in Peace, Mr Frog. Rest in Peace.