Having a tortoise as a pet was not something I had considered until my teenage son brought it up during the second lockdown.
I contemplated getting a dog after my husband died, the house was eerily quiet, and the thought of a dog to fill the void of noise, did occur to me. But I knew I didn’t have the time or energy to cope back then, and it wouldn’t have been fair, for many reasons, on both sides. Since my son and I had already discussed the reasons for not getting a dog as a pet, he was aware that the chances were low. So instead, he debated getting a tortoise as a pet. He reminds me of his dad in these types of situations, determined at getting what he wants. Initially I said no, as some species can grow quite big. But after showing me numerous cute photos and video clips, he convinced me, and we agreed on a dwarf hermann.
As we counted down the days to the arrival of our new pet, Adam decided he wanted to call him Terry (I wanted to call him Rocky, but my son got his way). I had been, unexpectedly excited, and two years ago today, we received our pet tortoise.
Before we got Terry, my son had still been struggling in the mornings, not eating much and getting him to school was hard work. His dad had always been around and better at getting him up and going in the mornings. Thankfully and surprisingly, having a pet changed that. And now we both look forward to seeing Terry toddle out of his hide in the mornings and bask under his infra-red light.
Having a tortoise helped me in ways too, I slowed down and I tend to do things at more of a tortoise pace these days. I enjoy watching him and have learned a lot from having a tortoise as a pet.
I never imagined a tortoise would be company when my son was at school as he looks up at me with his beady black eyes, expecting food. Or the noise he makes as he stomps around his tank. At times I think there is someone in the house and then I realise it is Terry. For a pet that is so slow and small in size, he can be quite loud. He loves his strawberries and apples although we are not allowed to give him a lot of fruit, its not good for them, a bit like humans having too much chocolate. When I give him his bowl of green leaves, he looks at it and has a sniff — then he looks at me — then back at the bowl —stretching his head and neck, as if where is my fruit…
I am now a tortoise person! Although, I wish I had a shell that I could tuck myself into, when I felt like it, and disappear from the world.
A sketch I did of Terry, a while back, been a while since I’ve made time to draw.
The cutest ❤️