Am devastated. Feel so awful.
My DD has epilepsy but no other diagnosed problems, she is very argumentative and quick tempered, has trouble concentrating but apparently is happy and cooperative at school and is very bright.
My older DD has a pet and she kept nagging me for one so we bought her a hamster. Tonight she had the cage in her room and I kept checking on her, she was just watching it in the cage, she was so happy to have her own pet. I told her a million times she was not to open the cage ever without me being there. Anyway she came downstairs with hamster in hand looking sad and said she thought it needed to go to the vets... poor thing had no visable injuries and was still warm but soon cooled down and was obviously dead.
My older DD burst into tears, me and DH started shouting asking her what she'd done, she was crying it was carnage... she was hysterical... I was just so angry that I'd trusted her and she'd got it out of the cage.
We calmed down and I asked her what happened, she said it wouldn't go to bed and she was trying to make it go to bed... I couldn't get much out of her, I think she most likely dropped it maybe into the cage from high up. It was a tiny dwarf hamster so very delicate.
Previous to this incident, a few months ago we were round a friends house who had puppies and she was playing with them, she was cuddling one nicely then all of a sudden threw/dropped it onto the floor. She didn't seem to understand why we were upset with her but she was pleased the dog was ok.
We have had dogs round and we have larger animals that she is maybe a bit rough with but wouldn't hurt them on purpose... i.e. carrying the dog around like a doll although the dog seemed quite happy...
I have gone to lengths to explain to her that animals are real creatures with feelings etc... and that they are very delicate and we need to take care of them. I personally would literally not hurt a fly, we are a family of animal lovers so please don't all jump on me, I honestly couldn't be more upset... In hindsight I know I shouldnt have bought her the hamster but she was so loving about it and happy I really thought I could trust her.
She has never had any problems hitting other children aside from her siblings occasionally, she plays with her soft toys lovingly and she is very loving with me and her family and friends.
Should I be worried? I am really worried about this, you hear all sorts about hurting animals being the start of violent behaviour etc...
Any advice would be great... we buried the hamster in the garden and I made her watch and told her that once something is dead it will never come back and how would you feel etc... trouble is, I get the impression that she is only ever half listening to me.. her behaviour and defiance is pretty atrocious at times to be honest and I have started questioning whether she may have ADD or some other behavioural issue. I know the epilepsy can cause behavioural issues though so it may be that either... she is on epilim for that and very rarely has episodes.
Her brother and sister are lovely well behaved children and we are a loving 'normal' family and I can't think of any external issues which may be causing her behaviour.
Sorry so long, needed to talk.... I think I may make an appt with my GP tomorrow for her.
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Behaviour/development
My 5 year old killed her hamster :(
pinkypie · 06/08/2009 01:26
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