"Despite being alone, I say this loudly over and over and over again as I make my way up the brick walkway that leads to our house. That I had to go back seventeen years to find this reassurance for myself is troubling, back to when the dog was just a wish, albeit a persistent one coming from our daughter Meredith. That was when I voted no."
"We started walking every day, at least a mile, maybe two, to help channel her energy and boost ours. We became more playful, the kids inventing games like "Ring the Doorbell," which got Lizzie running to the front door while they hid under the pillows on the couch or the blankets on the bed until she sniffed them out, not hard to do with all their giggling."
A parent initially resists adding a dog because of time constraints, responsibility, furniture scratches, and accidents. Family majority votes for a pet, bringing a black Labrador puppy named Lizzie. Lizzie's arrival increases daily activity, prompting regular walks, trips to the shore, woods, and winter play. The children invent games like "Ring the Doorbell" to engage Lizzie, who eagerly explores and uncovers small treasures. The household adapts routines and becomes more playful to accommodate Lizzie's energy. The parent repeats the mantra "My vote was no, so I should be okay" while confronting the reality of the decision.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]