When you’ve been a dog mom for so long, and dedicated your life to rescue, deciding to add small humans to the family comes with a lot of questions.
Will the dogs like the baby? Will the baby like the dogs? Will the dogs get upset and jealous? Will we still be able to give enough time to keep rescuing and fostering? And I will be the first to tell you, it is a hard thing to balance. When I first found out I was pregnant, we had 3 dogs- 2 of our own and a foster, Atlas. Atlas found a home, and then we got another foster, Matilda. Then we lost our girl Sami and we made a permanent member out of Matilda. When Kellan was born we had just our 2 and decided to take a little break to adjust. Since then, our Rudy passed and we are left with sweet Matilda. We have not had only one dog in so, so long. It used to feel like the house was empty. But now, with a toddler, we are kept plenty busy. So much so that poor Matilda doesn’t always get the attention she probably should. My mother in law came over to visit tonight since she just got home from vacation. She brought Kellan a couple of small animal figurines, an owl and a puma. Kellan took them out of the bag and threw them on the floor, continuing to enjoy the bag for the majority of the night. But unfortunately Matilda found, and quite enjoyed, the owl. Now it only has one wing. He’s quite a special, unique owl now. Sorry, Matilda. You’re right, we need to pay more attention to you.
4 Comments
Lisa Goldman
3/7/2019 08:46:47 pm
It takes a special heart to foster. I would be a foster fail mom as I would never give them up!
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3/8/2019 01:40:04 pm
It has to be a strange adjustment for you. I have always known you as such a dog owner. Kids require so much more attention though. We lost our dog a year ago, and I figured we would have another one within at least a couple months. It is a year later and we just can't seem to pull the trigger. It is just such a commitment and we want to give the dog the attention it needs. Hopefully one day we will get to really enjoy and spoil our dogs again.
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Sharon Gubser
3/8/2019 02:47:58 pm
Ha! My daughter is having the same problem at her house -- 2 dogs and a 2 year old. One day Charlotte looked sad and said "Poor Gill." My daughter realized that their Westie had disemboweled a bubble guppy!
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Sara T.
3/9/2019 09:58:19 pm
This has been one of the biggest points of guilt in my mom of humans life. When did I stop being a dog person? When I started paying more attention to babies I pass in the supermarket than dogs being walked on the street. When my priorities HAD to change.
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Author5th grade teacher, wife, mama to my 3 magical babies, ally, advocate, doggy foster mom... just stumbling on. Archives
March 2022
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