Parent conference day...that day when we find the nicest way to say the less-than-positive comments about our students. Thank God we don't have many bad situations! It's funny, though; having dogs has given me lots more understanding.
At times parents can be so defensive if we don't think everything their child says is wonderful. Anything less than a superlative causes a frown to begin at the corner of parental lips. I get it, though. When I walk with Sadie and someone doesn't oooh and aaaah over her and the marvel that she is, I begin planning a vendetta against them. That my friends haven't taken the time to come meet Murphy J. is just appalling to me; how could they wait to see the best male dog ever to hit the face of this earth?
I even have a better handle on divorced-parent guilt. Their version? "I ran off with someone else, and you aren't in my life much anymore, but I will buy you a Lamborghini even though you don't drive yet." My version? "I have to stay late at work, and it's raining outside but you can't come in; here's a T-bone steak." Different bribes, same guilt.
I have often fumed at parents who expect from one child what another child produced. So Son Number One has already been published in a textbook by age 18. Number two Son probably won't ever do that, even at the age of 35. Same with the guys at home. Sadie learned to "sit" and "down" like a champ without too much input from me. Murphy? Well, he sits for food, and I find myself more and more grateful for that since I have begun the process of teaching him the basic dog tricks. But...and this is an important "but"...Murphy adores me. Murphy gazes up at me with eyes brimming with passion. Murphy smears himself across my lap with complete confidence that a place is waiting there for him. Surely that's a worthwhile trade-off. Sadie can sit, down and even heel, but sometimes she's just not in the mood to visit - almost cat-like in that way. Murphy can't bear for me to leave his side...sometimes a little cloying, but everyone loves to be loved.
I must go and prepare for another conference now. I feel ready now.
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That's great. I totally know what you mean about parental guilt (baby or dog), when i have to leave Samson for a few hours I find myself bargaining with him. "If you stay here now, I'll give you some kong treats, and I SWEAR we will go on a walk." All he knows is I'm leaving, he's not, please give me some treats and get on with it. I think we project our own guilt onto our kids or dogs.
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