A Note from Janice Brown, Founder

 Gone are the days when animals were banished to the porch for bedtime. Today, many are in our beds with us, and pets are considered part of the family. Whether they are your only children, or if you have some two-legged ones as well, animals play a special role in the household dynamic.

Before I had my daughters, I just couldn’t understand when people would tell me their relationship with their pets shifted to make room for babies. “That will never happen to me,” I thought. But as time has passed, things have changed.

I recently sat brushing my oldest dog Luna after a bath and I noticed her ears were a bit dirty. “Remember the days when I used Q-Tips and baby oil to prevent ‘swimmer’s ear’ during the summer?” My husband, sitting within earshot, laughed. “And remember the good ol’ days when I brushed your teeth nearly every night?” Now, believe me, my animals are still my babies. It’s just that with a 3-year-old and a 16-month-old, the extra time I once had to pamper my pets has been replaced with cutting up food into little pieces, putting on Polly Pocket’s tiny rubber skirts, reading books (usually about animals!) before naps and bedtime, picking up Legos, dolls, and Fisher Price people from the floor, and countless, other joys that come with parenthood.

    As our lives have gotten busier, we’ve created a new parenting paradigm, and my husband Barry has slowly become the main caregiver to our cats, dogs, and fish. We used to be equals but when I got pregnant, the opportunity for a heavenly 9-month break from cleaning the cat litter appeared. I had little choice but to play the “pregnancy card” while I could. (I am quite aware that if you are careful and wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the box it is perfectly safe, but, hey, as long as he was willing…) The reality of living in a house with kids and pets is exhausting and rewarding all at the same time. There was one Sunday not too long ago where by 10 o’clock in the morning we had cleaned up cat puke, dog poop, and pee from an almost potty-trained toddler. All we could do was laugh, and wonder, “How did we get here?”

After spending the weekend with my 8-year-old nephew Dylan and 5-year-old niece Sasha, however, I realized that the way the animals interact with our kids now is not always how it’s going to be. The girls love their furry siblings. They pet them, cuddle with them, and talk about them when we are away. And though they are experts at holding snacks over their heads and bracing themselves as two giant dogs rush excitedly towards them for kisses, sometimes they need a (well-deserved) break! While watching Dylan interact with the animals, I could see that they provided much more for him. Back home in Toronto they have a fur-less house, so the pure novelty of having pets around made them instant friends. There were times when the animals let him know they needed a refuge from being picked up and led around by the collar, but always did so respectfully, and he took their cues well. They were too happy to just lie there and get belly rubs and ear scratches instead. The dogs and cats could not get enough love from him, and offered the same in return. Dylan’s connection with the dogs allowed him to easily speak their language. He knew they understood him, accepted him for who he is, and loved him the way we all want to be loved: unconditionally. Living with kids and pets takes a lot of love, patience, and a sense of humor, but you get back way more than what you put in.

Enjoy this busy time and smile as you sign the note to your child’s teacher that says, “The dog ate my homework!”

Be well~

Janice Brown
jb@ChicagolandTails.com