Yeah Write #42: Puppy Love (Super Challenge Non-Fiction Essay Round 1) #amwriting
My First Dog: Cimmaron — 1977?
At only two years old, my daughter told us with a confident nod, “I want a doggie.”
How adorable! How sweet!
Five years later, the statement has turned from cute assertion to a nagging, whining plea in stereo from two mouths.
“When are we getting a puppy?”
“Are we going to get a puppy this weekend?”
“You said we were getting a puppy.”
“How much longer? Can’t we get one now!?”
A time existed when I could squeal in delight at the mere mention of a warm, furry thing tripping over its own feet. I love animals after all. Several four-footed and winged creatures enriched my life over the years. We have two cats. I even loved my husband’s neurotic tabby who would hiss at me if we passed in the hall too close on a hot summer day. The same cat that ran from the second floor all the way to the basement to hiss and growl at me when I stubbed my toe because I had ruined his nap with my banshee call. The cat that left me distraught when he disappeared one night and never came home. The house felt soulless.
Something happened to me when I had kids and entered my forties.
The kids say dog and I hear, “more shit to do”.
There it is. I said it.
Our cats are confined indoors and I’ve become the sole person cleaning the daily stench. I clean the toilets multiple times a day just so I can do my own business because my son has not learned stream control. How hard it is to lift both seats and pee into to the giant, porcelain hole?
My kids brush their teeth and blue mouthwash and sparkly tooth paste end up in a Jackson Pollock smear on the counters, faucet and mirror. This doesn’t happen when I supervise by the door and don’t blink. Dishes, laundry, vacuuming, sweeping, picking up, and wipe downs.
It never ends.
Cute puppies need food and shelter, bowls and bedding, and have fur to brush. I imagine big hair balls chasing cat fur dust bunnies. I see pee puddles and landmines and walking and training and refereeing.
I predict a few toys will not make it through the teething stage despite a million reminders to put them away. I would worry about my shoes if they weren’t already falling apart.
Guess who is going to channel Doc McStuffins to glue and sew together the tragedies.
I don’t want a dog.
I don’t want to wake up in the wee hours to let it outside. I don’t want to walk it in the rain or when it’s hot or when it’s cold. I don’t desire to get a backache bathing it, to wrestle with brushing it, or to work up a sweat trimming nails. I don’t want to poop scoop. Okay?
Yet, I find myself sighing and agreeing and listing to my husband what kind of dog we will not be getting. Not bigger than medium sized and not long-haired. It can’t be so high energy and intelligent that we risk returning home to a hole chewed in the microwave. If I could get a dog that behaved a bit more like a cat, I’d be on that faster than you can say squirrel.
It’s not because I’m a cat person. Cats just take less looking after and I’m mighty tired of all the things that need looking after.
I know the reality is inevitable. It’ll be a long road of messes and frustrations. The dog we pick will grow bigger than anticipated and I’ll be doing the majority the daily drudgery. And that puppy will wheedle its way into my affections with its baby wiles and warm pink belly. It’ll get underfoot and steal my dinner (Dakota you still owe me those boneless ribs you opportunistic mongrel). I’ll buy the high-grade food, replace dog toys, and train the lump of fur. I’ll love it and one day mourn its passing.
That childhood ignorance and glee left me a long time ago. That is the price and the burden of experience. The road is traveled and the obstacles anticipated.
I don’t have to June Cleaver or Donna Reed my way through the day. I’ll get slimy kisses on my face and warm heads in my lap even if I endure daily chores with a grumpy attitude — and I’m not talking about the future puppy.
I don’t need to love the things I do for the ones I love.
And, that’s okay.
Yeah Write Super Challenge Round 1
11 comments on “Yeah Write #42: Puppy Love (Super Challenge Non-Fiction Essay Round 1) #amwriting”
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Aspiring writer, wife, mother of two, owner two cats. Teacher, lover of science, books, science fiction, fantasy, and video games.
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Laissez Faire 
Tara, you nailed this! My toddler has recently started asking us for a cat.And all I can think of is all the work I have to do cleaning up after her AND the cat. This was a great read!
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It spoke to you did it? Hah! Do you wonder when it happened that things turned into “how much is that going to cost” “how much more work is that going to be” and “what are the odds that is going to turn into an emergency room visit.” LOL
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Hahaha! Knowing my toddler, I’m sure there will be an ER visit, either for her or for the poor cat!
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I have one (almost grown) kid and two cats, and I am not willing to take on a dog. Too high maintenance! It never ends, and then when it does we’re bereft.
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This dog better be extra cute because I need all the incentive I can get!
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I love dogs, but I can’t deny they’re a lot of work to look after properly.
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My husband wanted a golden and I was like…uh…no…that fur needs brushing way too much. LOL
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It’d be like hairdressing a wookie. 🙂
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Hahaha 🙂 !
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Hahahah this is so great! These were all the arguments we put up as well until hubby finally gave in to me. Now I am the one that has tone clean up the poop. Luckily both are short hair so no brushing. But they’re going to be big dogs. Good thing they’re super cute.
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My husband keeps sending me puppy pictures and he’s all like…”aren’t they cute”. And all I can muster is a “Uh huh.” He asked me what was up and I said, “All I see is a puppy getting ready to pee on the floor and poop on the carpet.” “Geez, Woman, you know how to kill a moment.” LOL Sorry, guy, the kids broke me. Hah!
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