i feel like a mommy...

I have heard from a million different sources that once you have a child, your motherly instincts will just simply ‘kick in’. I could never really comprehend this… just going from thinking about yourself to constantly thinking about, accommodating, and planning for someone else in what seems almost like an instant is such a huge notion. I am very far off from having children of my own (knock on wood! knock on wood!) but since getting a little puppy, I already have a much better understanding… and appreciation… for parents.

All of my friends and family told me when I was thinking about finally purchasing the dog I had dreamed of for years that it would really be like having a little fluffy child. I knew my life would change at least slightly since I would have to make changes in my daily routine and financial budget, plus I would have a whole new slew of responsibilities… but no way would my responsibilities be changed that dramatically. Little did I know because even having a pet brings on those motherly instincts.

First the changes seemed gradual and even exciting… cleaning pee puddles off the carpet is cute for the first week because how could I really stay mad at those puppy dog eyes? Sure, the expenses seemed high but it all seemed just ‘start-up costs’ – you have to get the puppy shots, the puppy bed, the food bowls, the toys, the treats, the leash, the collar, the tags. Phew. Than you are in the clear right? Nope. I had forgotten about the licenses and registration fees. Oh well, these were all one time costs right? Things would start to balance out again right? Well, kind of.

Now this fee doesn’t apply to every dog, but our little Scruffles has to visit a groomer every other month so he doesn’t get… well, too scruffily. And while those appointments are necessary, they aren’t cheap. Of course not. Than there are the toys, the food, the puppy pads, the collars, the leashes that get out grown or used up and need to be replaced. *sigh* As I told Scruffles the other day, “I have eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all week so I could take you to the vet. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!” But this is all just about money… what about the new responsibilities?

I can’t tell you the times I couldn’t go straight out to meet up with friends after work or turn down a weekend away because of the puppy. Missing a series premiere on television because the puppy needs to be walked, make-out sessions cut short since Scruffles jumps on our laps demanding ‘pay attention to me!’, or my relaxing couch time cut short due to the nightly struggle of brushing him. Or how about the simple fact that every chore becomes twice as long since he insists on helping me do it… Scruffles feels the need to help vacuum (barking at the machine and running in front of it), do the dishes (try and get in the dishwasher), clean the bathroom (get in the tub), or fold laundry (drag socks all over the house).

But just lately have my maternal instincts kicked in. Brian and I have decided to take Scruffles with us our on two week vacation to Virginia and Washington… and this decision alone has changed everything. First we had to book tickets for him to fly with us. Let’s just say when I went to visit Janice in Arizona a few years ago for New Years, my tickets cost the same as the dogs. Ugh. Than we had to buy him the carrier allowed on airlines which resulted in three separate phone calls to airlines and follow up calls to make sure we had bought the correct one; I am taking no chances. We decided to next the airplane bathrooms in case we have an emergency… which means we have to sit next to the airplane bathrooms for seven hours. Eww!

Than we had to get a health certificate proving our puppy was safe to travel across the United States which is a standard procedure… but a costly one. Basically we had to pay $65 for a half a piece of paper with three items circled and his temperature written on it. And I have been stressing about how a 7 month year old puppy will do handling 12 hours of traveling (check in, flight, lay over, baggage claim, etc.) shoved in a cube. Just thinking about it makes me get anxious. So I decided to get the little guy some puppy sleeping pills just in case it’s too much for him. Add another $20 to the growing list of costs associated with this vacation. Please, let it stop!

Nope. Puppy is like a child in the sense they have the worst timing ever. Four days before his appointment to be given a health certificate, he gets the flu. Poor little guy was throwing up for days. Picture me holding him so he wont play in it while I clean it up, talk on the phone, and attempt to not burn dinner before Brian gets home. Whee! So of course we have to take him to the vet a few days before his other vet appointment to get him something for his flu. Two doctors appointments in four days; what a mess.

And now hear I sit trying to make a list of things to pack for my trip home… but the entire list so far is comprised of things only for the puppy! My carry on will be the ‘diaper bag’ equivalent for a dog: puppy pads, treats, food, bowls, toys, collar, harness, leash, coat & sweater (yah, no I am not kidding. That guy gets cold!), health certificate, birth certificate, rabies and shot information, etc. I am going to feel like a mom lugging a huge bag filled with crap (none of it for me!) while trumping thru the airport.

I could go on and on listing exactly why Scruffles is really like my little baby boy… but this is probably become boring enough! One instance can really sum it up for you: people know I am not a morning person! I am horrible at hitting the snooze and getting up at the last possible second, which is still often too late. But now I get up a half hour earlier just so I can play with Scruffles before I go. Aww cue the cheesy movie of the week music. (But I am still grumpy for about twenty minutes… that won’t change!)

So basically I have a little family of my own now… in a non-legal sense! Brian and I live together with our little puppy and while I can say I have domestically changed dramatically, I couldn’t be happier. If you had asked me a year ago what I say in my immediate future, this wouldn’t have been it! A family was far away from my mind. But now that I have one, I wouldn’t want anything else. However, the whole real family/baby thing… that needs to wait for a looooong time. Puppy is a handful enough! Which reminds me: please pray for our vacation – in between holiday travel, the dog on a plane, the lay overs, etc., I see this as being a recipe for disaster.

*pic of the little guy who inspired this post*