It’s now been almost three weeks since Millie, the Midlife Crisis Dog, joined our family. We’ve been learning (and, in some cases, re-learning) a lot about what it means to live with a puppy. We’ve been adjusting to a new schedule and a new dynamic in the household. And we’re still working on some very basic things, like No chasing the cats, even if the cats are literally begging you to chase them. On balance, though, I’d say we’re doing well as a reconfigured family.
Today’s Five for Friday is devoted to a list of things I’ve learned in the last three weeks, mostly through puppy love.
Relax. Puppies pee in the house sometimes, but pee can be cleaned up. Puppies chew stuff, which means you have to put away the things that matter (for the time being, at least) and remember that you can’t keep an eye on that puppy every single minute–you’re going to lose a few things. But if they’re things that don’t really matter, you can just throw them away once they’ve been marked by puppy teeth. No need to freak out.
Be grateful for what you have. Because we’ve been busily raising children and putting those children through college, Mike and I haven’t had a lot of spare cash to devote to home decor or remodeling–we’ve taken care of the big, important home maintenance jobs and let everything else roll along. And I am supremely grateful that this is the case, because now we have carpet that can be stained one more time without causing me to lose my mind, and we have a couch that allows for puppy snuggles, and throw pillows that can readily be turned into dog beds. After surviving two children, a dog, and two cats, our house is basically in the perfect condition for raising another puppy. Once our kids are out of college and our budget is more flexible, Millie will be old enough to live in a renovated home.
Find the balance. We installed a baby gate with a cat door in our main hallway so that the cats can get into the bedrooms and find some peace and quiet when they need it. We’ve given our Florida room to Millie, just as we gave it to our senior dog, Hailey, when she was a puppy, because it’s tiled and easy to clean. That’s Millie’s place for naps, treats, meals, and time out. Hailey gets a comfy orthopedic bed in the family room, where she prefers to be, and Millie is learning to leave her alone when she retreats to that space. We are all finding a way to live with each other in imperfect harmony.
It’s important to play. Whether it’s fetch, chase, or some game of her own making, Millie loves play time. It’s an important part of her day, because it keeps her developing brain sharp and tires her out so she’s ready for bed at night, so we don’t miss it. Watching the gleeful abandon with which she greets play time reminds me of watching my kids, when they were little. They were capable of being very grown-up for long stretches, but they were kids–they needed time to play, too, and they took their play time seriously. Millie reminds me that we all should. Play doesn’t stop being important just because we’ve grown up.
Stop and smell. Roses, wildflowers, fertilizer, deer poop–Millie finds it all just fascinating. When we go for a long walk in the evening, she’s happy to trot along with me until she comes across something irresistible. Then she plants her feet, hunkers down, and smells. Taking her for walks has reminded me that, while exercise is part of the point, it’s not the entire purpose. Engaging with the world around us is equally valuable.
Earlier this week, after a particularly challenging day of puppy wrangling, Mike gave me a very sincere look and said “No more pets. Okay?”
I nodded. No more pets. Millie will be the end of the line for us, as far as pets are concerned. So I’m going to work hard to remember to enjoy this time with her, since our puppy days are numbered.
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