Here is the pros/cons list that led me to this conclusion:
·
Someone to cuddle with on the couch when
you’re watching Hart of Dixie and no
one (i.e. your husband) else will go near you.
·
Pets teach children valuable lessons of
responsibility and commitment.
·
Less need to drag out the dustbuster
after your toddler finishes dinner; just let the dog have at the leftovers
(there have been a few meals where I’ve considered whether moving would be
easier than tackling the mess on the floor).
·
You are forced to get exercise every day
even if you don’t want to leave the house.
·
Walking the dog allows you to meet
neighbors and gives you an excuse to explore your neighborhood.
·
You have to wake up really early in the
morning to care for them and pick up their poop.
“You are not allowed to go on the internet until
your next appointment,” my doctor informed me.
Suddenly, I remembered one more issue that needed to
be addressed.
“I was planning on getting a dog for my husband’s
birthday next week. Can I still go ahead and do that?” My doctor advised me to
wait until after the pregnancy to make a purchase of this magnitude. After all,
this was my first pregnancy and I had never owned a dog before. Who was I to
argue?
And here we are, four years later, with two boys but
still no dog. I have now had the privilege of being pooped on and peed on, I
have braved potty training, I have endured the massive planning that goes into
taking a vacation without your kids, and I have been repeatedly woken up at all
hours of the night. The only thing that gets me through these obstacles is that
it’s only temporary. My children will eventually both be potty trained
(right?!), and perhaps in the near future will be able to entertain each other
on a Saturday morning long enough to let their weary parents sleep in past 7am.
Welcoming a dog to the family feels like it would be adding another child who
remains a toddler forever.
Maybe one day I will change my mind. I doubt it, but
it’s possible. Just don’t tell my children that. And definitely don’t tell my
husband.