Turning Into Our Parents

We've all said it at one time in our life right, "I won't ever do that to my kids"? Well, I did! Recently, I've been finding that I too have turned into my mother. Don't misunderstand, I'm not speaking ill of my mother. I love her very much and miss her very much since she went to be with the Lord two years ago. But, since her passing, I have found myself really watching how I parent, and turns out, I find a lot of the things I do are just like her. Today, my thoughts are on pets.

I distinctly remember growing up wanting a indoor kitten so badly, I cried and had a neighbor bring one over so my mom couldn't refuse in front of the neighbor boy (sneaky huh?). Well, it worked, I got my first indoor kitten. I heard the typical statements from Mom, "She can stay in the house as long as you clean up after her?" Well, I was in 7th grade at the time, and a busy little girl, cheerleading, band, basketball, etc...... Soon enough, my mom had enough and out went the kitten. I was heartbroken. Now, keep in mind, she didn't make me get rid of her, just put her outside.

Now, I've been through my share of pets, cats, dogs, fish, guinea pigs, and even a rabbit. Currently, we only have 2 cats and a dog, as I too had to thin out the pets. I did no harm to any of them. I gave the ones that outlasted me away!! This morning though, after vacuuming up enough animal fur out of my house to create another pet in my vacuum, I'm starting to understand my mom's reasoning for NO PETS IN THE HOUSE!!!!

It has all come full circle. I'm the one now saying NO MORE PETS IN THE HOUSE. I can't bring myself to throw out my 16 year old cat (the guilt would break me if something happened to her outside). But, I'm here to tell you, NO MORE. When these cats are gone, the only cats you'll find at my house will be outside. And as for the dog, my husband is working on an outside kennel to keep her in when we're not home. There have been some pets missing in our neighborhood and we don't want her stolen. She is full-blooded German Sheperd and cost us too much money to disappear. Not too mention, we all do love her. I am just tired of all the fur and dirt in my house!!!

So, it is true!! I have turned into my mom. However, I have also come to realize, that's not a bad thing! My parents loved me and did their absolute best. I can give my children no less, and am very thankful for the example I grew up with. I'm glad some of it rubbed off on me, and I can only hope that some of it rubs off on them!!!!