I don’t have human kids. And I know some people with two-legged offspring get a little offended when their little darlings are compared to four-legged (and furrier) kids, but I have to say, I think they really are similar. If I ever were to have kids, I feel pretty sure that having had a puppy has helped prepare me. At the very least, it’s prepared me to babysit other people’s kids.
As I spent the day with Annika not too long ago, I thought of a few of the ways that babies and puppies are similar:
1. Both require constant surveillance to ensure that they haven’t put something they shouldn’t in their mouths.
2. Both demand vigilance over bowel and bladder movements.
3. Both lack language skills and seem to have selective hearing (a.k.a. “I’m going to ignore her and do whatever I feel like”).
4. Both require you to overcome general grossness concerns — poop-related and otherwise. For example, I realized after having done it several times, that wiping a snotty nose with my t-shirt (or my hand) is probably gross, but my dog diarrheaed on my bed last week.
5. Both nap a lot. I like naps, too.
6. Both want to play in the cat’s litter box.
7. Both give me looks that I’m pretty sure mean that they think I’m insane.
If that hasn’t convinced you that I’m a trustworthy babysitter and/or would make a good mom, well then, I don’t know what will.
Click on the photos below to see large and in full.
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Kelly - Who said you couldn’t do people? Awesome!
Amy - Very impressive pics, Debbie.