I got mice for my son when he was about three.
They stank! They hated me and my husband to the point that they would run across the cage/room to bite us. We were the only ones that took care of them!
They loved my son however, he got them "talking to him", going to the cages when told to and playing with his wooden train set. They would push and pull on his command, play fetch with him and hide and seek with a penny. Don't ask me how - they behaved like vampire mice towards me -and each other when he wasn't around- but perfect angels when he was there!! He's nine now and can only just remember them.
They died within three weeks of each other at three years old, our vet said they were the oldest mice he had treated.
Oddly my son wasn't upset as he said it was their old time and they were happy to be on their way.
Never again!