Ahhh!

As the birds chorus was broken this morning by my grumpy children and the two excitable golden reterievers and the incessistent meow of our cat it struck me; is having both children and dogs a great idea? The day starts getting the children ready, making breakfast at the table while the dogs hang around for the faintest hope that maybe, just maybe today may be the day a piece of toast lands in their mouth. Following breakfast it is time to feed the dogs and the cat, while our 1 year old son tries to help both of them eat the biscuits. Fortunately both dogs are nicknamed Hoover and before you can finish saying “Amen” they have finished 3 cups of biscuits. Despite the speed they ate, at which would kill a lesser person, they walk around licking the bowls, just in case they have anything left.

So dogs and children, is it worth it. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to them. The best part of having them together is that the children learn not just to trust animals but also how to respect them. From a young age our two children have been taught we don’t hit the dogs and treat them with the upmost of regard as they have some feelings too. However the dogs also have to learn that a piece of cheese waved in front of their mouths from a young child is not for them and they must wait until given permission otherwise face the wrath of the child’s scream. Definitely not for the faint hearted!

Getting out with the dogs and children makes life seem worth living some days. When you have had a long day at work and come home and take the children and the dogs to the park everyone has fun and all the worries of the day just evaporate into thin air. While the children throw and chase a ball and the dogs eagerly join in, it is easy to see why children and dogs just mix.

However some nights when I came home at about 9pm after a very long day, the dogs greet you as their long lost friend, following you down the hallway and just manage to wake up one of the children. The next 15 minutes is trying to keep the dogs quiet, put the child back to sleep, heating up the dinner and not waking up the wife. All very easy without a dog there I can assure you. After my dinner the dogs finally get theirs and once again act as if this may indeed be their last meal for the next year and then get ready to turn into bed.

You know some people say having children is the best thing they ever did, other people cats and dogs. For me having all of them just slots into our otherwise quiet life. I would not change any of it, even when some days it is only a few hours sleep and driving in traffic. This really is the life.