The Furry Grandchild

I am posting this today because my Mom is currently on a plane headed back to CT after her visit here. I am thinking she will miss this post! If not, tough cookies for me!!! Or should I say tough dog cookies....

Before I had children I had my first baby, my dog Shelby. I was obsessed about not leaving her alone for too long, making sure she was fed right, exercised, and happy. I would give dog sitters a two page set of instructions if I was gone for one night. I thought she was my baby.

Then I had a human baby. Then I realized my dog, was a dog. 


The level of care, concern and love you have for a child is beyond belief. I finally understood what parents go through. How intense it is to raise a wonderful, caring and happy person.

When I was pregnant with Coco, my mother decided to have a baby of her own. A dog baby. This new baby dog Gracie became her entire world. She was in love. There was no phone call without interruptions from Gracie. When I tell would tell a story about Landon, she would pipe in with one about Gracie. This would be fine, except it was a DOG.

I have heard from a few girlfriends namely T, and K, that their Mother in Law and Mother's do the same. In fact I heard one story where Ruby the dog bit one of her kids and of course it was the kids fault. I thought this was ludicrous until Gracie bit Landon and again Landon was blamed. WHOA!

This visit I found myself trying to one up the dog. I said listen, Coco said "Twinkle!", she said "Wow"! And my Mom would reply "Gracie knows squirrel and walk!" Then I would say, Coco gives the best hugs, and she would talk about how Gracie wakes her up with a kiss. I give up. I can only hope she doesn't get a horse, or llama or something when the kids are in college.


How about you? Does your Mom or Grandma have a dog baby? Do you find yourself competing?



6 comments:

Claire said...

My mother talks about the dog and cats more than she does about her children and grandchildren and we've all mentioned it to her. She will interrupt our conversation on the phone to ask me if I can hear the dog snoring - I hear the dog snoring all the time when I am over there!!! I better stop right now.

Debbie said...

That would drive me nuts! I think I'd just have to tell her how much it hurts my feelings.

Ouiser B. said...

I am literally laughing out loud at this post! Mrs you are spot on as usual!!

My own mother is the SAME way about her sweet pup, Wilhelm. At first it annoyed me to no end but I've kinda given up trying to "one up" her as you put it.

Its nice to know I'm not alone.

xo

mommy2davin said...

OMG! YES YES YES! My Mom has 2 (yes 2) little dogs that she is the exact same way with. I really have to bite my tongue sometimes. Sometimes I can't hold back. She asks them, questions over and over as if they are going to respond!
I could go on...

Pink in a sea of blue said...

This is so funny, but unfortunately reminds me of how I was with our kitten. We got him when we were struggling to conceive years ago and he was my baby. When mini#1 came along a year later, my mom finally revealed she was so glad I was calling her with baby stories instead of cat stories!

sunset bandit said...

Dying!!! I don't even know what to say but thanks for sharing!