Harlingen, TX -
For area mother, Marissa Canales, a recent trip to the local Petsmart for hamster bedding turned into an experience she would like to forget.
"I can't explain how it all started and I suppose it should have occurred to me in advance, but it didn't", Canales explained. It was just going to be a quick in and out stop for Canales and her five year old daughter Tina, however when Tina caught sight of a cat in the window the potential for an ordeal was made into reality.
"She started saying what pretty cat it was and I agreed but explained that we already had a cat at home and the whole bit," Canales said. "Before I knew it she was making wild promises if I just got her that damn cat. Saying things like she would do the dishes for ten years and crazy talk like that." For Canales the situation continued to get worse. "So I told her we had to go and that we could come back another time and see the kitty." To which, Tina began a series of rapid fire scenarios about what would happen to the cat if it wasn't 'rescued'. Most notably was the idea that the cat would commit a kind of ritual ancient Japanese suicide to maintain its honor if not adopted by the family. Astute and wily for a five year old, Tina is unequaled when it comes to pressuring her parents through a creative combination of screaming fits, crying and downright guilt trips. She makes them very proud yet even more troubled when it comes to her abilities.
Needless to say, her attempts at convincing her mother to get the cat continued well into the parking lot and during the ten minute drive home. "Trying to get her mind of that lousy cat was like trying to wrestle a cloud," Canales said exasperatedly. "I really just needed a nap and a little alone time after that whole thing." Of course the conversation wasn't over for sweet little Tina who diligently stood at the foot of her mother's bed for the next two and a half hours kicking the bed rail while asking when they were going back to the store to get the cat, but was eventually replaced with the new demand for a jet ski.
For area mother, Marissa Canales, a recent trip to the local Petsmart for hamster bedding turned into an experience she would like to forget.
"I can't explain how it all started and I suppose it should have occurred to me in advance, but it didn't", Canales explained. It was just going to be a quick in and out stop for Canales and her five year old daughter Tina, however when Tina caught sight of a cat in the window the potential for an ordeal was made into reality.
"She started saying what pretty cat it was and I agreed but explained that we already had a cat at home and the whole bit," Canales said. "Before I knew it she was making wild promises if I just got her that damn cat. Saying things like she would do the dishes for ten years and crazy talk like that." For Canales the situation continued to get worse. "So I told her we had to go and that we could come back another time and see the kitty." To which, Tina began a series of rapid fire scenarios about what would happen to the cat if it wasn't 'rescued'. Most notably was the idea that the cat would commit a kind of ritual ancient Japanese suicide to maintain its honor if not adopted by the family. Astute and wily for a five year old, Tina is unequaled when it comes to pressuring her parents through a creative combination of screaming fits, crying and downright guilt trips. She makes them very proud yet even more troubled when it comes to her abilities.
Needless to say, her attempts at convincing her mother to get the cat continued well into the parking lot and during the ten minute drive home. "Trying to get her mind of that lousy cat was like trying to wrestle a cloud," Canales said exasperatedly. "I really just needed a nap and a little alone time after that whole thing." Of course the conversation wasn't over for sweet little Tina who diligently stood at the foot of her mother's bed for the next two and a half hours kicking the bed rail while asking when they were going back to the store to get the cat, but was eventually replaced with the new demand for a jet ski.
