In an Unexpected Place

Join UrbanMoms as we discuss being active and making healthy choices in the “life is good” blog series sponsored by Nesquik.
At a time when most Canadian children may not be getting the calcium
and other essential nutrients they need, delicious milk – like chocolate
milk made with Nesquik – is just a good idea.

It’s true, as the saying goes, that you often find happiness in the most unexpected of places. And, not to sound cliche, the same thing just happened to me. After weeks, months, years of emotional turmoil and a lot of unhappiness, I found a little slice of peace and even — maybe — joy in the most unlikely of spots.

Underwater.

No, I’m not talking about snorkeling the reefs off some peaceful tropical island or soaking my troubles away in a bubbling hot tub or even the small bliss of falling asleep in the bath (which I have done and therefore know to be true). In fact, I’m talking about something I was very, very unwilling to even try. Something my daughters talked me into after months and months of cajoling, bargaining and even outright begging.

I’m talking about an aquarium.

I really, really, REALLY didn’t want to go there. It seemed…what? Too much. Too much of a lot of things. Too much work. Too much space. Too many animals (we are running a veritable Noah’s Ark with two cats, two guinea pigs and two betta fish already). But, like the sucker I am (and I really am a sucker) I eventually caved and told the girls we would get an aquarium at our new house. It seemed, in the end, a small price to pay to make them happy during what has been a time of great upheaval and change for them.

So, we took possession of our new house, and along with it, a new fishtank. We started with five fish: mollies. They’re supposed to be a hardy breed and good starter fish. I sure hope so, because we are all already entranced by them! We have a white molly, a dalmation, a black one, an orange molly and one that looks like a bit of each. The girls each “own” two, and I picked out the black one to round out the batch, so he’s mine. Their names are as follows:

• Trevor (the dalmation)
• Spike (the orange)
• Phinx (the white – and no, it’s not Sphinx…just Phinx)
• Maggie (the mottled one)
• and my guy, Nero, the black molly (who the kids insist on calling “Picky”)

I had to admit it, even to the girls: I am happy we took the plunge (har, har, har…awful pun most definitely intended!) It was really fun to set up the tank, with colourful substrate, beautiful plants and cute accessories (a pirate ship we’ve dubbed the Black Pearl and a castle called Hogwarts – yes, we are movie buffs) and it’s surprisingly peaceful to sit beside the tank and watch the fish float by, see the plants swaying in the current and hear the peaceful trickle of the filter.

It was no surprise to me to read that keeping fish (like all pets) is beneficial to one’s health. Research has shown that owning pets (aquarium pets included) can make you happier and contributes to lower blood pressure, among other health benefits. And sitting there yesterday evening, listening to the kids laughing upstairs while gazing in at our five new friends, I sure felt that peace. After the girls ran around and got their giggles out, I called them down to feed the fish their first meal in their new home, which they gobbled up with gusto.

We, similarly, sat down (cross-legged on the floor, since our furniture won’t arrive until Sunday) and enjoyed our first meal in our new home: takeout and a glass of Nesquick. As the French say: sante! To your health!