What a Science Class Turtle Taught Us About Curiosity

Violet (the cat) looking at Sally (the turtle)

Several months ago, my daughter Jackie read a chapter book at school called The Critter Club. I don’t actually know anything else about the book, but I do know that after school that day, Jackie came home and presented her latest entrepreneurial endeavor: her very own pet-sitting business.

Over the course of the following weeks, we hired Jackie to “pet sit” our own animals if one of us went away. Yes, we paid our daughter money to watch our own pets! Since then, she has recruited Mom and me to do volunteer work for her corporate empire. She holds Critter Club meetings with slide decks she creates on her iPad, hired her Aunt Carla (complete with a negotiated compensation package), and even held a fundraiser in our driveway.

Expanding the Pet-Sitting Business: Enter the Science Class Turtle

So, when the school science teacher sent out an email looking for summer volunteers to watch the science class turtle and snake, I immediately called James and Jackie to see if Jackie was ready to expand her business to animals whose last name is not Dinsmore.

She initially wanted the snake- who thankfully was taken by the time I responded to the email. So, in June, we officially took on the care of the science class turtle.

We discussed with the science teacher that the turtle is a 20 year old, female and if she dies we are not to replace her. Then we took her home to get her tank set up, which was originally planned for the dining room, but Jackie insisted the turtle stay in her room. So some rearranging was done and we were able to find a place for the turtle in Jackie’s room.

How the Family Pets Reacted to the New Turtle

Jackie has nicknamed the turtle, Sally, but just for the summer as the science class pets do not typically have names. The fish and Ginger (our hamster) do not care about the new tank in Jackie’s room with a turtle in it. Sammy (our dog) was unphased by the existence of yet another tank in the house but did take the opportunity to try and break into the turtle food we had been given and inadvertently put on the floor next to the tank (honestly, what were we thinking?). Violet (our cat) was fascinated! She didn’t seem scared and she didn’t seem hungry (like she does with the hamster). She was totally absorbed in watching this ‘thing’ in it’s tank swimming around.

A Lesson in Curiosity (and What We Can Learn From a Cat)

It made me realize that she was curious (I know, I know about what curiosity allegedly does to a cat), but it was a great reminder for us humans. Violet had probably never seen a turtle before so rather than become defensive or scared she just watched and listened (and frankly sniffed) the turtle in its tank.

So often we hurry, we jump to conclusions or don’t actively listen or observe long enough to fully comprehend what we are curious about. But, if we take the time to learn with an open mind and an open heart, we can eventually learn (in this case that a turtle and a cat can coexist in the bedroom of an 8 year old child).

Don’t worry the turtle will be going back to science class in September, but I’ve enjoyed learning about the turtle too. And it’s been a good reminder to me to remain curious, like last week when I tried sharing a document for the first time in a LinkedIn post (it was completely cut off no matter how I viewed/edited the document- any suggestions, please send them).

Has anything made you curious recently?