Kids and puppies

Puppies and kids, kids and puppies, their relationship is one that I will never understand. It's fantastic, but it's an unspoken bond that adults will never figure out.

Our new mudpuppy is doing pretty well. He's being less of a pain in the ass but still getting into trouble on a regular basis. 

He still tries unsuccessfully to get on the couch, it's not going to be long before he can jump up there, which will really suck.

He still chews anything and everything despite having the entire puppy chew toy selection at our house.

He still doesn't completely like his crate and being left alone. Big C is back to work this week so we've got someone coming in 3 times a day for play time and potty breaks so he's not crated too long. But I'm thinking it will be a month or so before he gets completely used to the process.

He still is full of puppy spunk and craziness. I can see why they say that you should never get a puppy at Christmas time. That would be nuts, just nuts.

My own public service message…no matter how much your kids beg and plead, never ever get a puppy for them for Christmas. They are too much work, too needy, too much of everything to be involved in the chaos of the season.

If they really want a puppy, wait. Yes, wait. Wait till after the holidays, I'd even advise waiting until spring if you live in a cold snowy area. Wait until you are really, really prepared for this new little living thing to enter your lives.

Because if you wait you won't regret it. Kids and puppies are about the sweetest combination you'd ever want to come across.

Our mudpup is infatuated with Miss K. No matter what he is in the middle of, he stops when he hears her voice. He goes nuts when he's upstairs and she comes home and he can't see her. He sits longingly at the gate in our living room when he hears her in the morning, anxious for her to emerge from her room.

Miss K is not much better. She usually bolts out of bed eager to go see her puppy. She typically won't go pee, get dressed or anything else practical till she sees him too.

Let me be clear, our mudpup thinks she's another dog. He wants nothing but to roughhouse, nip and wrestle with her if he could. We've even witnessed a couple running pounces in attempts to get her to play "puppy"

There have been tears because he's nipped her with his sharp puppy teeth or scratched her with his paws. She hides up on a kitchen chair at times when he just won't leave her alone.

No amount of "NO" or ear pinches or distractions will deter him some days, but he's getting better.

You'd think she'd be scared. You'd think she would want him to go away. 

It's just the opposite. 5 minutes after he's scratched her, she's back giving him hugs and kisses. Miss K loves this dog, unconditionally and fully. 

She never asked for another dog after our first Mudpuppy passed away. She still mentions her everyday and will always love her but she never asked to get another dog. I believe she hoped we would, but she never requested one.

That was our choice to get another dog. And I'm glad we did. He's a pain in the ass and we're not getting nearly enough sleep, but he's good for the soul. 

Life just seems more relaxing and comfortable with a dog.

He is a handsome little fellow, he is learning some stuff very quickly and I hope will be a fantastic retriever as well as a family companion.

So, if you are thinking about getting a dog…think really hard, really really hard. They are a ton of work and I mean a ton, but if you want to reap some big rewards and give your kids a buddy that will love them just as fully as they do, you might be doing a good thing

Til next time…think about adopting a rescue dog or from the local humane society

Being tired makes you say stupid things

I feel pretty bad today.

It's really cold and kind of snowy. It's Monday. But that isn't the reason I feel bad.

I yelled at my kid today. This morning while we were supposed to be getting ready to leave or trying to get ready is what I should say.

We were running behind. Not by a lot, but we were falling behind on the get out the door at a decent hour train.

Miss K had done a super job getting her teeth brushed and kind of brushing her hair. ( In winter hat season, any sort of style is hardly worth doing) I figured we were golden.

I thought wrong.

I ran back upstairs to grab a bag to put my shoes in as I had to wear winter boots to work today and Miss K followed me back up the stairs too.

Go back and start putting your boots on please.

No

Just go, I will be there in a minute, get your coat on at least. 

No

OK, I'm ready, let's go. So back downstairs we went. She took one slipper off and I figured we were rolling now.

Then she said she needed help with her other slipper. 

No you don't take it off and get your boots on. 

No, I can't

Let me preface this by saying we are presently having a battle with Miss K about the phrase I can't. She technically isn't allowed to say it, not that it doesn't leave her lips about 100 times a day its that it gets ignored until she comes up with something more appropriate/accurate, like "I don't want to" or "I need help" or "I'm too tired" or something of that nature

You took off one slipper, you can do the other

No, I  can't, can you take off the other one?

No, I need to get my boots on too, you do it and then I will help you with your coat.

No, I can't. And with that she stretched flat out on the stairs and proceeded to do nothing to get ready.

Put on your boots now please, at this point I'd taken off the other damn slipper and was attempting to help her get her stuff on.

So I said more things that were perhaps a little too gruff about putting her boots on and taking away other privileges when she got home.

Which resulted in even more defiance from her. Big C still being on leave from his surgery  was in the picture by now too. He took the drastic step of a swat on the bum and threats of no books at bedtime.

She was in full out meltdown and tears now. 

I felt horrible. Miss K is not a bad kid. Has never been a bad kid. We rarely if ever have to put her in a time out or any disciplinary measure. But she really, really pissed me off this morning.

She can fully dress herself, carry her own back pack and do the zipper on her coat and a lot of the days she does it. Occasionally we get asked for help with a tricky zipper or some snaps and that is just fine, but today she and we went over the edge.

I know why i lost it. I'm tired and achy and a whole host of other things but it doesn't amount to a good excuse for losing my temper.

She didn't deserve that start to the day and I don't need to feel guilty all day. 

I know in the long run she won't remember today. And I probably won't either.

Chasing a puppy over the house and keeping him out of trouble is hard. Waking up numerous times a night for him to go pee sucks too.

But, hurting your kids feelings and setting the tone for the day yelling at them is inexcusable. 

Yup, I'm tired and irritable, but I've got to find a way to be better than that. To get past that and be more level headed with my kid. To realize that she has bad days too.

I'm going to pick her up from the sitter's today, I will give her a big hug like I always do, but today it's going to mean just a little bit more

Til next time…count to 10 before you yell at your kids, maybe it just isn't worth it...

He's here

Well he's here.

Our new puppy came home last week.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's good. It's really good having a dog back in the house. Comforting on some level.

But scary on another. Like being a new parent. This helpless being that relies on you for so much and you wonder how you will ever make it through.

He's cute, really really fluffy black ball of spunky cute. He will stop, sit, tilt his head to one side and just look at you and it makes you melt just a little bit inside.

He's also a pain in the ass. A big one at times.

The first night he was home I got no sleep. I don't mean a few minutes here and a few minutes there, I mean zero minutes. He was up every damn hour and he went pee every single time you took him out.

Now there was some missing of his 10 other litter mates. And adjusting to a new home. But every damn hour?? Oh god what a long night. 

We've had him nearly a week and we're at least down to 2 and 3 hour, sometimes 4 hour stretches at night before he feels the need to pee, so that is helpful.

That and Big C has decided to take one for the team as he says. He's still off work after his appendectomy so easier for him to nap during the day than me. They tend to frown on that in an office environment for some reason.

We're limiting his water and night and he seems to kind of like his crate now so things are getting easier in that department. But a long way to go still.

Miss K is in love. Head over heels in love. He jumps on her (which we're keeping to a minimum as best we can), has got her with the sharp puppy teeth by accident and she still comes back for more.

He loves her too. He thinks she is a puppy…but she's the only thing remotely close to his size, so who can blame him?

He seems pretty smart. As smart as a spazzy puppy could be that is. I'm hoping he ends up well behaved, we're trying for that, but who knows at this stage of the game.

I'm still nervous, still not convinced that this was a good idea, but hoping with all my heart that it will be fine. 

I missed having a dog in the house. I didn't miss the occasional hassle that comes along with them, but missed that presence/love/peace that comes with them

He puts a smile on my face everyday and I guess that's a start…

Til next time…a pic of my big guy that has  a soft feminine side in his choice of resting spots