Kids Scared of Dogs

I am a professed cat lover. Early on as a parent, it was apparent to me that my eldest child had not acquired my love of animals. Like her father, she did not like the cats; the cats did not like her. The first few times she was around dogs, especially large dogs, she was afraid. So, to train her and her siblings how to live with dogs, we got one. (One of the cats flipped out and now lives in the basement away from the dogs, but nothing in family life is simple.)

Life with our Maisy was great. We loved the dog. The dog loved us. Unfortunately, she was terminally ill and we only got to enjoy her company for about six months. At this point, we have three heart-broken children. For some odd reason, their father thought a puppy would be a good childhood adventure. (foolish man!) Of course, logic holds that once you see a puppy, you want a puppy. We came home with two. Double mistake. Then adopted one more two years later.

Four years after losing Maisy, we have three dogs and two kids who like them. The non-pet lover has learned to live with and tolerate dogs. We have done a crappy job training them, thus they are hyper and hard to live with. They compete with each other for attention; you pet one, you get three... tounges out... with only two hands. Here is the score after almost five years of dog ownership:

3 Dogs - rescued and happy: 3 points to Dogs

3 Kids - accustomed to large animals and some training: 6 points to People

12 Paws - yard is a trampled muddy mess: 3 points to Dogs

2 Cats - must live separately from Dogs due to uncooperative personalities: 2 points to Dogs

1 Husband - pick up a LOT during poop patrol: 3 points to Dogs

1 Wife - brushing and cleaning and hair and more hair: 3 points to Dogs

Money - annual vet visits, food, heartworm meds, flea meds: 3 points to Dogs

Laughs - the antics can be quite funny: 3 points to People

Affection - kids can be found curled up with dogs to cuddle: 2 points to people

And there you go. The Dogs have it with a six points lead according to Mom. I am sure the kids would score things differently.

The Balance of Motherhood

If I could go back and relive any portion of my life, I would choose the first few weeks with my first born. The newborn baby emotions are so strong, and I only had her to focus on. Those touching mothering moments do continue, thankfully, in just the necessary proportion to keep you from taking your children OUT when they get older.

The beauty and balance of motherhood is created by one beautiful moment to balance each disgusting one. And a lot of patience. Examples:

• Mustard colored, runny baby poop down the legs to balance the warm snuggly infant sleeping on your chest.
• Throwing their toddler food from the high chair to the floor balances the hug they spontaneously give with "I wuv you Mama!"
• Crying at the store because you said, "No" to candy balances with the joy of hearing them read to you in first grade.
• Your third-grader burps on purpose all through dinner is balanced by the joy of watching your children create a special bond with each other.
  
• Your high-school student out-and-out refuses to cooperate at a family function balances the pride you feel when they come happy about their grade on a school project.
• The cost of a new trampoline balances the joy of watching them have fun jumping.
• The pain of watching them struggle with a mistake they made balances their knowledge to handle it differently the next time.