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Balancing dog and baby HELP
I may just be a crazy person, but with it coming closer to the time when my husband and I plan to conceive, I am getting extremely worried about how having a baby will affect the relationship we have with our pets. I'm mainly worried about my dog, Ace, a 6 year old boxer that I've had since I was 19. He is very attached to me, and I am to him. I've never had a connection with any person or animal like I have with him. We recently lost his buddy to cancer about 6 months ago, and he's been different ever since.
I know when you have a baby you have less time for your pets, and our dogs have always been our kids. Does anyone have any advice that you can offer to help ease the severe anxiety and back-and-forth thoughts that I have when it comes to balancing my current fur baby, and a near future newborn baby?
I would SO greatly appreciate it!
Re: Balancing dog and baby HELP
There was definitely an adjustment period after the baby was born. But once the baby got onto a more regular sleep pattern, it was easier to have regular "dog time." I play fetch with the dogs (well, the younger one, at least) after DS goes to bed, or
I agree with pp...the early years (especially the first few months) are tough because there's less time (and when you're sleep deprived, less energy) to go around for everyone (not only for your dog but for your partner, your friends, your family, etc)
"The hardest thing is to live richly in the present without letting it be tainted out of fear for the future or regret for the past." - Sylvia Plath
It has been pretty hard giving the dogs the time they deserve, and my kids are almost 10 months.
Once you have a baby, everyone tells you "Is there anything I can do for you???" (only a few REALLY mean it). If someone wants to come
I can completely relate to this. Our oldest dog is 4 1/2. We got him when he was just a few weeks old (the mother refused to feed) and he is extremely attached to us. My husband even has a tattoo of his paw print. Not a day goes by that we do