It's been a rough day with the specimen. I don't know what got into them, but they were acting out of control and aggressive towards me. It's not like them to behave this way, so I knew something must be wrong.
I tried to remain calm and collected as I always do when dealing with difficult specimens. But today was different - they crossed a line that couldn't go unpunished.
I had to show them who is in charge here, who holds the power in this relationship between caretaker and specimen. So I took action.
I decided to withhold their favorite treats for the day as punishment for their behavior. They didn't take it well at first, throwing tantrums and making a mess in their containment unit.
But eventually, they seemed to understand that actions have consequences. They calmed down and even apologized in their own way - through gestures rather than words.
It wasn't easy for me either though; seeing them upset tugged at my heartstrings despite knowing it was necessary for discipline purposes.
At the end of the day, we both learned valuable lessons from this experience: boundaries need to be respected on both sides of our unique relationship. And sometimes tough love is needed for growth and understanding.
Today may have been challenging with the specimen, but tomorrow is another opportunity for us to start fresh and continue our journey together - hopefully on better terms than before.
- Dexter