Family members that don't get it.

[RealPitBull]

Here is a tiny rant:

This is the first time in my life I've been without a dog. The short time I was without ANY animal was like torture. At least I have Toby the cat staying with me for the time being and he is helping to some degree (he's no dog, but he is still an animal ).

So I get on the phone with my mom yesterday morning and I'm just sort of whining about the lack of dog in my life, and I told her about how I almost brought Atom the AmStaff home, but opted not to for several personal reasons, and that I am going to wait to get a dog. She kept interrupting me and telling me how I should NOT get a dog right now, and learn to "get interested in other things, because your whole life has been animals". This turned into an argument and I basically had to get off the phone with her.



My mom loves animals and used to be very much an "animal person", just not so much anymore. I am really the only one in my family that's the crazy, life's-work animal person. No one else gives me grief about it, just my mom. Not really sure what she expects from me, but yes animals, esp. dogs ARE my life. The funny thing is, I have a diverse amount of other interests, they just aren't top of the list. Or my mother's interests. So.

      I just felt like sharing with you guys.

As a side note, last night I fell asleep on the couch watching TV. I woke up around midnight, and curled up next to me, in the crook of my arm and against the back of the couch, was Toby, on his back, snuggled up and sound asleep with me. I have to try to get some pix for you guys.

[melonie]

The only one that gets it in my family aside from my kids is my baby sister. My kid do as well, but even my oldest daughter used to give me grief.
This is why I like coming here... I don't feel like such a weirdo.

[RealPitBull]

Mar 13, 2013 9:29:36 GMT -5 melonie said:

The only one that gets it in my family aside from my kids is my baby sister. My kid do as well, but even my oldest daughter used to give me grief.
This is why I like coming here... I don't feel like such a weirdo.

LOL Exactly, kindred spirits here.

[megan]

I get the same type of comments from people all the time.... I have my two, and I like to foster a third. If I could, I'd have 4 in the house all the time but my other half would never go for it.



But any time I mention bringing home another foster, my boyfriend's Mom begs and pleads with me not to bring home another one, as if it's her decision. "Oh, you don't want to do that." "Why do you keep bringing them home, someone else will help them." "Can't you just do normal things like everyone else?" "You have enough dogs already." Then she'll come put her arm around me and try to talk me out of it as if I haven't told her it's my decision and I'll do what I want like 16 times already.

What gives?!

[michele5611]

I think we all get those sorts of comments....esp. if like myself you have no children. My mother always says she loves that I love animals she just wishes I loved kids as much as I do dogs.

[nyri]

I get grief, too, but for me it's usually not too bad. My grandmother is the one I get it from, mostly. My mom only does when I'm considering new animals. Once I have them, I think they're kind of like grandkids for her (the dogs anyway... I don't think she really cares one way or the other about my rodents or cats since she hardly sees them).

You're the only one who knows you and what will make you happy and what is best for you. There's nothing wrong with dogs or other animals being the center of your life, so if you feel lonely without a dog, you have as much right to complain about it as anyone else complains about anything else. She should at least be glad that you're being responsible about the whole thing and not taking a dog when you know it's not in your best interests right now.

[catstina]

Yep. I get it, too!

[RealPitBull]

Mar 13, 2013 11:14:47 GMT -5 nyri said:

You're the only one who knows you and what will make you happy and what is best for you. There's nothing wrong with dogs or other animals being the center of your life, so if you feel lonely without a dog, you have as much right to complain about it as anyone else complains about anything else. She should at least be glad that you're being responsible about the whole thing and not taking a dog when you know it's not in your best interests right now.

Thanks for this.

[emilys]

well she's your mom....... so..........

[maryellen]

lol i heard it all too.. omg you got a dog. why. then omg 2 dogs. then omg 3 are u nuts. you dont need dogs etc... i just told everyone to mind their own business.. i noticed that when most people complain about you havng an animal its because they are miserable and see you happy and dont like that. misery loves company, and miserable people hate seeing other people happy. when sonny died my mother didnt say much except why are you so upset he was a dog...that really bothered me the most. just ignore those that are miserable and do what makes YOU happy..

[Dave]

Don't feel too bad, Mary. Once when I let it slip I had adopted a fourth dog, my Mom stopped talking to me right then and there, and it lasted three weeks. She was always saying things like, "Are you still doing stuff for that SHELTER?" "Why don't you focus on something else?" "What is it about DOGS?" My brother and all three sisters all love my dogs and what I do, but my Mom has never supported any decision I've made in my life, be it animal related or not. So, you know what? I no longer share my life with her. The less she knows, the better.

[RealPitBull]

Mar 17, 2013 16:38:19 GMT -5 Dave said:

Don't feel too bad, Mary. Once when I let it slip I had adopted a fourth dog, my Mom stopped talking to me right then and there, and it lasted three weeks. She was always saying things like, "Are you still doing stuff for that SHELTER?" "Why don't you focus on something else?" "What is it about DOGS?" My brother and all three sisters all love my dogs and what I do, but my Mom has never supported any decision I've made in my life, be it animal related or not. So, you know what? I no longer share my life with her. The less she knows, the better.

That sucks, Dave. But you get it.....at least I'm not alone. :-S