We have a little over 3 months left before the baby arrives before we officially become "parents," but for anyone who has dog(s) (especially for those who dress their dogs up in clothes), we know that the lessons of parenting started the minute those little tails began to wag. We love our pugs, who are like children to us in so many ways, and this week they really schooled me in the art of parenting.
THE SITUATION: Mia is still recovering from her knee surgery and since being off the pain meds has started limping a lot and simply looking uncomfortable. Remy doesn't remember she's still recovering from surgery (He can be so self-centered that way!) and continues to walk all over her, use her as a pillow, and instigate the bark-run-crash into the door routine the pugs love to play whenever someone comes through the door.
CASE #1 of Yassie's Mothering Skill:
Mia's a poop eater. There. I said it. It embarrasses us all, and grosses us out even more. But if Remy is feeling especially obnoxious, he will poop in the house, upstairs in my office, which he thinks is his personal bathroom. If he poops, she will come. So the earlier this week, I suspected he had to go after he made a beeline upstairs so I called him back down to take him out. While out, Mia overcame her pain (driven so much by her love of poop) and ran upstairs. With a bum knee. Adam retrieved her (thankfully before the poop was ingested) and she's been limping ever since. Pugs-1, Effective Mothering-0
CASE #2 of Yassie's Mothering Skill:
Grandma comes over and unlocks the side door to come in while the pugs are snuggled on the couch with me. Remy hears the creak of the key being turned and instigates the bark-run-crash into the door routine. Mia follows dutifully, except she crashes into the kitchen island. Pugs 2, Effective Mothering-0
CASE #3 of Yassie's Mothering Skill:
Mia is staying at Grandma's for the day so she can rest and get a vacation from Remy. Remy is acting all sweet and obedient and like the good dog he is when alone and without his sister. I'm finishing up laundry, putting clothes away upstairs and he sits and waits nicely for me by the open kitchen gate. I'm proud of his abilities to maintain boundaries. Pugs-2, Effective Mothering-1
CASE #4 of Yassie's Mothering Skill:
I decide to do a thorough cleaning of their sleep spaces and wash their beds and bed linens so Mia can come home to a clean house. Remy pees on the uncovered bed cushions while the cover is in the washer. Pugs-3, Effective Mothering-1
CASE #5 of Yassie's Mothering Skill:
It's cleaning day and Remy is acting like a sweetheart and I get distracted on Facebook. I look over and there he is, licking stainless steel cleaning off our fridge. I consider if I have to call poison control and what I would tell them. For some reason, "My pug just licked stainless steel cleaner off the fridge and I'm worried he may pass out" just seems like an awkward way to start a conversation. Husbandly advice when I call him to tell him about the incident: Give him a piece of apple to wash it down. Pugs-4, Effective Mothering-1 (barely)
So the lessons I've learned for when our baby girl arrives?
1. Make sure she's always wearing a diaper, otherwise Mia may eat her poop.
2. Keep her wrapped in bubble wrap so it doesn't hurt when the pugs run over her on the way to the door.
3. One child is always easier than two when trying to manage them and do chores. And yay for boundaries!
4. Don't leave her unattended lest she be peed on my Remy. At least, don't dress her up like a fluffy, white cushion to tempt him into peeing on her.
5. Don't let her lick the fridge.
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