Having a dog is a lot like having a 3 year old.
They follow you everywhere, whine when they’re bored, hungry, or want to go outside and they also throw up everywhere. Your car, bed, carpet, your brand new couch.
A lot people would flip out if this happened. But really, it’s just a couch. Yes, it’s a brand spankin’ new only been in our house 18 hours kind of couch, but still, at the end of the day, it’s just an object. And I love my dog more than any object I could buy in a store.
Plus, it can be cleaned. The joy that Lucy the trouble puggle brings me is worth so much more than the little hiccups that happen along the way.
Stuff happens. If you let an animal or a person into your home, BE KIND. We all have bad days, and nobody is perfect.
Just keep that in mind next week when your relatives come over for Thanksgiving and they break one of your favorite wine glasses, or one of their kids runs through your home at top speed with a fistful of markers.
~Mavis
*As I rounded the corner and noticed Lucy’s mess on the couch, I immediately thought of the passage in the Last Lecture Dr Pausch at around 6:07 minutes.
I first heard the talk a few years ago and since then the talk has really put a lot of things in perspective for me. It’s a great talk, and you should listen to the whole thing when you have the chance.
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JC says
That’s a magic couch – brown in the kitchen and grey in the living room! Neato!
Mavis Butterfield says
Hey, I just noticed that! Maybe that’s why I thought it was brown when I ordered it from the store. How crazy is that?
Diane says
Poor Lucy. Maybe the new furniture smell got to her.
I like you a little more for your reaction to it!
I love the pillows you have on the couch. They bring out the gray and the brown.
Heather says
Our 12 year old dog is very sick this week and we are close to having to put him down. I love your attitude…just love her while you have her. These things will happen.
Pam says
I’m so sorry Heather – much as we love our pets, we can’t stop the natural course life takes. And I agree with you – love them while you have them because they really do become a member of the family. That being said – I still don’t let the dog on the furniture in my house. He has doggie beds (and really NICE doggie beds) in the living/family room, my bedroom and my office. So our deal is that I don’t curl up in his dog beds and he doesn’t curl up on my bed/couch. Works well for us both……..:)
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m sorry to hear about your dog Heather, but you’re right, all we can do is love them while they are here with us. Keeping you in my thoughts.
Cenith says
I am so sorry Heather. In January ( on my birthday no less) I lost my kitten. He was 16 years old. My heart is still broken. But I am comforted by the belief that when I get to heaven my beautiful kitten will be at the front of the line to greet me.
Cenith says
I am so sorry Heather. In January ( on my birthday no less) I lost my kitten. He was 16 years old. My heart is still broken. But I am comforted by the belief that when I get to heaven my beautiful kitten will be at the front of the line to greet me. So it is just so long. Not goodbye.
Tamara says
Pets and children keep us humble!
Ashley says
To quote Miss Sheryl Crow: “The First Cut is the Deepest…..”. Lol. Gotta hate the first time new stuff gets scratched/stained/etc. We’re doing a lot of remodeling right now and my almost 3 year old put a little scratch in the floor with his dinosaur and spilled milk on our counter stools (fabric seats) within 18 hours, also At least we got the initial ‘oh crap’ feeling out of the way early :p
Lori N. says
Poor Lucy must have an upset tummy. And poor you for having to clean it up! Reminds me of the time we bought a treadmill, got it in the house and positioned, and our sweet Akita barfed on it before we could even get it plugged in! Super gross…but also funny. My hubby and I still laugh about that one!
Lisa says
Now the pressure’s off. You don’t have to worry about breaking it in. It’s an extra service dogs provide.
Thanksgiving 2008, at about 10 pm our guest had just left. We had had too much wine with dinner. My husband went upstairs. Our two and a half year old came up to me and said “My tummy hurts.” And then proceeded to throw up all over me. I couldn’t move. I started yelling “HELP, HELP, PUKING, HELP!” My husband came down and got our son and took him upstairs. I peeled off my puked on clothes. I really should have taken a shower right then and there. My neighbor and I were going out shopping at 4 or 5 am and when I woke up I was not particularly sober and the whole time we were out, that’s all I could smell.
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh barf… I mean gross. LOL
kate says
coffee grounds. it cuts the smell and dries it out
Barb says
I love Dr Pausch. I have his book (that goes along with the talk) and have watched his videos several times. He really helps to keep things in perspective. I am also a high school math teacher and use the Alice software that he helped to develop.
Mavis Butterfield says
I didn’t know he wrote a book… I’ll have to look it up. Thanks Barb. 🙂
Kristina Z says
Glad to see you’ve got your head on straight. 🙂
Heather says
You need a carpet cleaner w/ tools on board!! Barf is gross! Clean is better! Things are just things..aren’t we glad!
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh I have a carpet cleaner. In fact I think it’s the best “baby” gift you can give a new parent. We’ve had one ever since the kids were little.
Judy says
Mavis and this is why I’ve always had leather couches.. kids, dogs, and husbands! Lol
Poor Lucy..did she eat something she shouldn’t have? 😉
Rebecca says
Mavis you are a gem. Thank you for the video link – – – I watched the whole thing. Truly words of wisdom. Lucy is lucky to have such a great and fun-loving Mom! Hope she is feeling better today,
Debi says
This year was a bad year for me, my father went into hospice (and while on a FMLA helping my mother, the car broke down to the tune of $750). Then in mid-March, my father passed away, again trouble this time with the two front car tires (belts were separating so new tires, wheel alignment where another issue was found $500). Then in April my Abigail (fur baby) got pancreatitis and at the vet hospital 5 days ($1235). But I will tell all of you, I was glad to spend the last days with my father and to be able to help my mother out; I was glad that my dog did not pass away (she now has diabetes from the pancreatitis and has gone blind & she’ll be 10 in February), so I’m glad I still have my precious Princess as well. Yes – one needs to hug those that mean so much to them. It was a lot of money that had to be spent and owed on, but I would not have had it any other way.
Carol says
Oh, Debi, thanks for sharing this post! Hugs, My Dear. Time with the ones we love is priceless. Blessings to you and Princess!
Susannah says
I appreciate hearing someone who’s an actual (human) mom say that some (read: needy but lovable) dogs are a lot like having a 3-year-old child. I’m not a mom “per se” (unless you count my 3-year-old terrier), but I’m constantly saying my dog is like having a toddler, only to have “real” moms roll their eyes. Getting into anything and everything, needing to be constantly monitored and entertained, the constant clean-ups…I mean, I realize my “child” has four legs, not two, and her “clothes” consist of fur, but the work (and exhaustion, at times) feels the same. I hope Lucy has a speedy recovery for both your sakes!