Mommy I need a pet...

What scares a parent more than the 4 words of "Mommy I need a pet....?" Lake came to me last week and told me that he "needed" a pet. My stomach dropped but I tried to keep my composure (I swear kids can smell fear) and asked "What kind of pet do you want...a puppy?" "No mommy I want a baby elephant!" Relief flooded through my body as I explained that our house wasn't quite large enough for an elephant and that elephants poop a lot! Landon and Lawson are allergic to pets and that seemed to suffice for Lake and he decided that he would just make do with his new Black Lab Webkin. He has been carrying it around in a wooden box telling me that is the puppy's cage. He has even been "feeding" it goldfish crackers and bottled water. Logan also went through the pet stage a couple of years ago and when I stalled and told him that he had brothers he said "my brothers aren't pets!" He then proceeded to ask for a fish...another disaster diverted!