I recently ran across this poem from years ago. As a dog mom, I cannot begin to explain what a joy my dogs and all the dogs that I am so blessed to take care of mean to me. Happy Mother’s Day to all of my fellow dog moms!
I made and ate hot meals unmolested.
I had unstained, unfurred clothes.
I had quiet conversations on the phone, even if the doorbell rang.
I cleaned my house every day.
I never tripped over toys, stuffies, and chewies or invited the neighbor’s dog over to play.
I didn’t worry if my plants, cleansers, plastic bags, toilet paper, soap or deodorant were poisonous or dangerous.
I had never been peed on, pooped on, drooled on, chewed on, or pinched by puppy teeth.
I never looked into big, soulful eyes and cried.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop a hurt.
I never knew something so furry and four-legged could affect my heart so deeply.
I had never held a sleeping puppy just because I couldn’t put it down.
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was well.
I didn’t know how warm it feels inside to feed a hungry puppy.
I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being.
A Dog Parent
(Author Unknown)