More About the Tadpoles (May 17, 2011)

So third-born S queried, “Dad, why are there tadpoles swimming in the dishwasher?”

Let’s back up. We were given the tadpoles by the Mr. P, an amazingly bright friend of ours, also homeschooled, extremely bright parents and sisters. I know, I just used the word bright twice in the same sentence. But this family is BRIGHT! Bright spot in the day when they call. Bright for their intelligence. Bright for the light they shine to lead others to Jesus by behaving with great character. They are real…down to earth as they come…and bright.

A few weeks ago, P gave us tadpoles that were recently hatched that he’d found in a pond on their property. We’ve fed them boiled lettuce as instructed. We also learned they like boiled alfalfa sprouts. We kept them in a large mason jar. They swam, ate, and grew. Ahhh, the life of the tadpole. We had a garage sale for two weeks after receipt of the tadpoles, so many of our friends and neighbors came to view their progress. One day, 5yo M came by and said, “Can I see the tadpoles?” I went it to find them and they were not in their usual place. Later that night was when S said, S queried, “Dad, why are there tadpoles swimming in the dishwasher?”

Here is my suspected answer to the question.

Someone (no one specific has come forward but I have my suspicions based on who was where and when) was clearing the counter and sinks to load the dishwasher. Actually, the dishwasher was emptied out of obedience. I think the re-loading it was out of the kindness of that child’s heart. But it was more of a “let me load this fast before they ask me to and then I can go back out and play.”

You’ve loaded the dishwasher before: grab the cup and, if you aim strategically, you can pour the water to the bottom without splashing much on the outside.This is the method that I believe resulted in the tadpoles’ new environs.

Fast forward…

We poured more water into the bottom  so they were easier to locate when they came to the surface (they were bobbing for apples or something). They were safely retrieved and placed in a container unmistakebly non-dishwasher safe.

And they are still thriving. Need to change water levels soon and give them a rock or stick. What a process! Once, I was a mom who would freak out if my child got banana or teething biscuit on any part of his clothing except the bib. And now I can expertly tadpole dive in a dishwasher.

Oh, you thought I meant the process of the frogs? You know me better than that!