killer snails

Poor 6 has been escalating lately. She blames it on stress...can be such an insightful child...

Last week was bad. She has all the signs of beginning another UTI (one year infection free and I thought we were in the clear). Anyways, she looks so tired and is just not right in her skin - know that feeling? Had 2 'accidents' at school last week - not good as she is in a split grade 1/2 where she is the youngest child and some of the others are 8 1/2. Her teacher was good about it but there is still much embarrassment.

So we got home from school after a particularly bad day and find a dead fish in the tank, attached to the bottom of a snail. Breakdown.

We left the tank as is to go pick up 4 at daycare. Came home to find the fish engulfed in the snail's mouth (?). Too gross for words!

Shrieks ensued - along with hysterical sobbing. The mystery of the missing fish has been solved. We have been housing a Killer Snail in the tank with our fish. Self recrimination - she did not know about killer snails. It ate all the fish who disappeared - even Speedy - the fish she loved! 40 minutes of unconsolable crying. I felt so bad.

The snail has been removed - sentenced to a lifetime of solitary confinement in an old beta fish tank.

6 is still uneven. Such an intense kid. Where's the magic wand that's supposed to come with this job?