I knew the day would come–the day my kids started asking for a puppy. It has started slowly with the casual mention every now and then, but now it seems to get brought up at least once a day.
And I know from experience growing up that it will only get worse! I remember pestering my parents for years for a dog–to the point of actually going into their bedroom and whispering into their ear while they were sleeping so they'd subconciously realize that we needed a puppy.
Maybe it worked...the Christmas I was in 7th grade, my parents brought us to the Humane Society in Ohio (where we'd go to visit my grandparents, not just a really long drive to get a dog!) and we got to pick out a puppy.
I can still remember how exciting it was and the fighting with my sisters in the coming weeks about who got to hold the puppy and walk him. Well, they say you get from your kids what you gave to your parents and now the 'I want a puppy' days are here.
I had sworn off having pets–I mean they poop and pee, need to be taken care of, have to be taken to the vet and then they die and you have to see your kids' hearts break. But then again, there is something special about having a dog. You learn about responsibility and unconditional love and I feel like getting a puppy is a part of growing up.
Plus, I forwarded this blog post called '50 Rules for Dads of Daughters' to my husband the other day and here's No. 11:
There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”
Luckily, as of now, we're under no pressure as it's still only the occassional request, but if they follow the same pattern I did as a kid, we may have to cave in before they're sneaking into my bedroom in the middle of the night to trick my subconcious!
