My BDIL sent me a text asking if I wanted a puppy. I had to think about it. Our dog died a year ago and we had become accustomed to the solitude of not having children or dogs in the house. However, kids and dogs keep life lively. They don’t let adults just sit around, sleep in, or read the paper. Kids and dogs want someone to play with them, entertain them, and feed them. Children and puppies make us sweat the small stuff, and we love them for it.
Of course, this article is being written in retrospect. My husband finally said yes and we got the puppy, a darling Yorkshire terrier. We named him Smokey, but a few weeks into it and I’m thinking we should have called him Rascal. He is exploring every space that his nose or body can squeeze into and chewing everything else to bits. He is also doing a pretty good job of potty training us to be attentive to his prompts to go outside every three or four hours.
Smokey likes to eat, play, tear up newspapers, and snuggle. He is so cute. Last week his little folded down puppy ears turned into pointed little Yorkie ears. It was a poignant symbol of measuring childhood milestones.
Our puppy came to live with us on a Saturday and a week later our precious first grandchild was born. This seven pound and ten ounce boy has stolen our hearts. Holding our grandson is like winning a grand prize. This little baby is our joy – he can keep our hearts forever.
