Seeing my nephews last week got me thinking about the days before Madeline, and how, back then, I really didn’t see the difference between being the parent of a baby or the owner of a puppy.
In my then child-less mind I totally thought Rigby was the equal of my nephew Spencer in every way. This, as you can imagine, greatly upset people.
You could, however, understand my line of thinking in a twisted way. Rigby and Spencer were born on the exact same day, December 4th, and both had bitches for mothers. (Just kidding, Monica! Zinger!) Since they were born on the same day, I was apt to compare Rigby to Spencer. As a result the following scenes happened way too many times:
SCENE #1
SISTER: “Guess what everyone? Spencer started crawling!”
ME: “Crawling? Phooey. Rigby has been able to walk since THE DAY SHE WAS BORN!!! She was probably crawling in the womb!”
SCENE #2
SISTER: “Guess what everyone! Some lady at the mall told me Spencer was the cutest baby she’s ever seen.”
ME: “Just one lady? When I took Rigby on a walk today I had eight people go apeshit over Rigby. EIGHT!”
SCENE #3
SISTER: “Isn’t Spencer’s outfit adorable!”
ME: “Adorable? No. Adorable is Rigby in a T-shirt that reads: “SCREW LASSIE! I’M THE WORLD’S COOLEST PUP!!! ”
SCENE #4
SISTER: “Spencer started holding things today! I handed him a block and he held it! Isn’t that amazing?”
ME: “Not really. Now if you threw that block and Spencer brought it back to you we could talk. ‘Cause Rigby? She does that. All the time!”
SCENE 5
SISTER: “Spencer cries SOOOO loud. On my God he wakes me up in the middle of the night out of a dead sleep with his crying!”
ME: “Yeah, I’ve heard him and he’s not that loud. Now when Rigby barks people in China wake up!!!”
Finally, after enough of this kind of talk my sister finally screamed, “CAN YOU PLEASE STOP COMPARING MY BABY TO YOUR FREAKING DOG?!?!?!?
At the time I was offended. Now that I have a child of my own, however, I realize comparing the developmental skills of a dog to a baby isn’t really cool.
But you know what?
Dog or not I’m still in awe of my amazing little pup.
I totally understand this, and for me the lines are still a little blurred, as I find myself playing “fetch” with my 2 year old on a regular basis.
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I was guilty of the same charges… I was a doggie daddy before I was a baby daddy. The “bitches” line made my mouth drop. I can’t say it was a LOL though…. more like a SLOL (surprised laugh out loud).
Joes last blog post..D A … D D Y needs C O … F F E E
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I always say that before you have children, your dogs are your children. After you have children, your dogs are your…dogs.
Ms. Moons last blog post..Party On
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Rigby is so cute! What kind of dog is she? I always meant to get a dog before having a baby. Now I’m afraid if I got one I won’t give it enough attention.
Rachels last blog post..My Newfound Weakness
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That sounds like it would be fun to do just for kicks. You know the type…one of those braggy ones. Now I’l have to seek one out for sport.
PS You’ve been awardified at my site.
Jims last blog post..Go to Sleep + an Award
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One time these words came out of my mouth, and they were directed at a new mother: “I don’t know if I could ever have kids, because I’m afraid I wouldn’t love them as much as I love my dog.”
Well, two kids later I can say that I actually do love my children more than the dog. I can’t believe I said such an asshat thing.
HeatherPrides last blog post..Your Vote Counts on The Short Bus
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Rigby is so darn cute. One time my roommate let my cat out all night (she’s old and indoor only) and I told her it would be like me letting her kid play in the street while she slept in. She was pretty angry at that comparison, to put it mildly.
Also? I think you just put your phone number on the internet.
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My sister used to compare her dog to my son, but your dog is soooo much cuter.
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dude, that is one seriously cute puppy. my kid is finally smarter than my dog! the talking thing really sets them apart.
pjs last blog post..Music, guilty pleasures
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Rigby is adorable. The baby is cute also
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Sadly my mother-in-law (yes the grandmother of my daughter) compares her dog to my child. Now this is the mother of 3 and a grandmother for the first time!!! You would think that she would be all over the milestones of her granddaughter, but no, instead every time we tell her about something new Maya is doing she has to tell us something new their dog Marco is doing, ugh!!!
By the way, Rigby is quite possibly the cutest dog I have ever seen!! I’m a total cat person, but that is one cute dog
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Ha. I totally remember thinking there was NO WAY I could ever love my kids more than I loved my animals.
And then I had kids and I’m all “Pets? OH SHIT, I forgot to feed them again.”
Life changes. For the better.
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I’m not really a pet person so I can’t totally relate. But I do have a friend who loves her dog so much that she dresses him up and includes him in the family pictures on the Christmas cards she sends. I’ve always thought that was odd but perhaps I just need to get my own pet to “get it”.
Jen Ws last blog post..Happy Birthday to Jack!
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Too funny. Rigby is my size dog. We’re a cat family for now. Not sure I can handle another mouth to feed!
Kristins last blog post..On Having Twins
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OMG, that dog is so freaking cute I can’t stand it.
WMs last blog post..Oh…the guilt
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Whoa, whoa, whoa, dude, you can’t just back down so easily. I have two kids of my own and I completely agree with your original thought process.
And the tiebreaker is that no one gets mad at you when you lock your dog in a cage so you can go out for dinner and a movie.
LiteralDans last blog post..The rules of M-, Vol. 1
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I’m sorry… I don’t care what your sis thinks… your dog is the cutest thing ever!!!
Nixs last blog post..Why I am Pro-Choice.
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