Blessed Beyond Measure: Not So Different

This past week, our little girl Emma turned 6. In the past couple of years she has taken a drastic turn into the back seat, because she is no longer the baby of the family. For four years, she was our "kid"...the one and only. Although I would have never thought of myself as a "dog person", I was in love with her since the first time I saw her. We had told the breeder we got Emma from to let us know when her puppies arrived and if there was an extra girl (another person already had dibs on a girl). On April 29, 2008, we got the news that four puppies had arrived...two boys and two girls. Upon hearing the news, neither Eric or I were still 100% sure that getting a puppy was the right move. Then, the breeder sent us a picture, and immediately we both knew that she would be ours!

From 2008 to 2012, she was our kid. Throughout most of that time, we were also trying to get pregnant but until that happened with the success of Asher, Emma was the center of our hearts. I can recall several people telling us how different it would be when we had kids, and that although having a dog is what many think of as a "warm-up" for parenthood, it is not the same thing. Well, after being a parent (of a human child) for nearly two years now, I am going to say, "It is Not So Different." Sure, Emma is a dog and Asher is human, but parenting them both has been much of the same and although neither Eric or I could tell you that Emma is just as important to us as Asher is, I warn you to never come between us and our pup! :)

That said, the last two years have been crazy, and although it does make me sad to admit this, Emma has taken a back seat. Unfortunately, she no longer gets the attention that she used to, but that doesn't mean we love her any less. Because of this, I decided to devote this blog to her, naming reasons why parenting a dog really is much like parenting a child and also sharing some of my favorite pictures of her from the last two years...when she took the back seat.

Reasons having a dog really isn't that different than having a child:

#1: Both Asher and Emma make traveling much more difficult. With both kids, traveling is more difficult because we either need to take them with us or find someone to watch them. Taking them with involves potty stops for Emma or diaper changes for Asher. Both tend to be restless in the car. Both would love to stick their heads out the window. Both smudge the car windows with wet nose prints or sticky little fingers. Leaving them behind is even harder. Emma can stay alone for a few hours at a time, but still requires someone to watch her, let her outside and play with her for any longer timeframes. Finding someone willing to do that for a reasonable price that we trust is difficult. Asher can never stay home alone, so again finding someone that we trust to care for him and keep him safe in our absence is very difficult (I think we have gone out alone less than a handful of times in the last two years).

#2: Both like to chew on things. For Emma, I knew that having a dog would be trouble. I knew that dogs like to chew on things such as furniture and shoes and I was determined to keep my belongings in good shape. Thankfully Emma never really had a taste for shoes and I only had to yell at her for chewing on our furniture once. With Asher, this was a different story. I never expected that he would be the worse culprit of the two, but that is exactly what happened! Unlike Emma, he loved to chew on shoes when he was younger, but thankfully it was usually his own. He also enjoyed the texture/firmness/??? of our furniture. Several times I had to firmly ask him to stop chewing on the coffee table, dining room table, or dining room chairs. Thus, although we do have a dog, if you find teeth marks on our furniture, they are likely from Asher.

#3: They both like to/need to eat...and they would both love to eat the same things. Although we have always tried to keep Emma on dog food and give her very little "people food", we're pretty sure she thinks she is human and should be eating what we eat. With Asher, it is the opposite. Sure he loves our "people food", but he would also be thrilled if I let him eat Emma's food as well...and although I'd be thrilled to say he hasn't tried it yet, I can't. He has tried it more than once and still (for some unknown reason) goes back from more when I am not paying attention.

#4: Having a sick child or dog is miserable either way. Whether your child is of the four-legged/furry variety or human, when they are sick and you cannot do anything for them but snuggle them and pray they are better soon it wrecks you. A few years ago, before Asher was born, Emma got really sick after a weekend at the cottage. We assume it was likely something she ate or drank outside, but never found the cause. For about a week, Eric and I worried as we watched our little girl refuse to eat or drink, loosing pounds quickly and realized that we might loose her too. It was awful. With Asher, thankfully nothing that terrible has ever happened, but just a common virus or cold is still enough to break a parent's heart! For both, all I wanted to do was make them better, but all I could do is leave it to God and let them know how much they are loved as I wait it out and do my best to make them as comfortable as possible.

#5: Both Asher & Emma are disgusting...(in the same ways we all are). They poop, pee, puke, sneeze, get snotty noses, frequently need baths, etc., etc. They are gross and it is our job to care for them and clean up after them. When we go on walks, we unfortunately have to pick up after Emma, and when we are with Asher we get to change diapers. Both are disgusting and things that I have no desire to do for anyone else's kids, but for my own it is necessary and it is my job. As a parent, we just take it in stride and do what needs to be done.

#6: Both Emma and Asher require training: Teaching appropriate actions and behavior, potty training, manners, tricks, etc. Many might tell you that teaching a child is much different. I disagree. Although there is much more to teach Asher, the same techniques can be used for both and Eric and I have found the means and methods we learned while training Emma are quite useful as we continue the daily training/upbringing of Asher.

#7: Slobbery (open mouth) kisses. Emma loves to slobber on us with her tongue and similarly Asher's kisses usually lack pucker and also sometimes involve a good lick! ;)

#8: Nakedness. Both Emma and Asher hate wearing clothes. First of all, I will say that yes, we have dressed our dog. During the occasions that we walk her when it is bitterly cold she has a little jacket, and at halloween she also has a ladybug costume. Both of which she despises. Asher, also would much prefer to run around naked, and often fights us when it is time to get dressed.

#9: Snuggles and love go both ways with both. For both Asher and Emma, Eric and I love them unconditionally. It is not that they can do no wrong, but that we love them despite their flaws and use those moments of failure to teach and strive for better. Likewise the love we get from them is amazing. Walking in the door and seeing a pup that cannot wait to get your attention or a little boy that grins from ear to ear is the best feeling.

Well, I'm sure there are more similarities, but that is all I can think of at the moment, so I will leave you with the photos. Enjoy.

Pictures from Emma's 6th Birthday (04/29/14):