We've gone round and round about this one, and I am the lynchpin in this decision. To dog or not to dog, that is the question. Everyone in my family wants one. My husband could go either way, but he won't bite unless I give the green light.
That's because he knows exactly who gets responsibility for the little guy or gal in the end. The buck stops with Mom. To continue the terrible puns, allusions, and other plays on words, "Ask not for whom the dog barketh, it barketh for thee" . . . Mother.
On the one hand, a companion might be a good way for all of us to let off steam—to play with someone who accepts you unconditionally, warts and all, and never argues, a pet that you can love and who loves you back. On the other hand, the arguing among the bi-peds might increase when it comes time to decide who gets to walk and scoop after the critter. (Nah, no arguing allowed.).
The real sticking point for the adults in the household, however, is what to do with our furry friend when it comes time to travel from A to Z and points in between. We are accustomed to being able to pack up and go at will without having to consider what to do with an animal in our care. Do we board or make other pet-sitting arrangements, or do we take with? If we take with, do we have all supplies with us for the trip? Do we need to make special arrangements with airlines or on trains? Do we need to search out special hotels that accommodate pets?
So much drama. It's like having a permanent baby in the house. Instead of a diaper bag, however, we get to pack up the pooch purse. It frequently is enough just to have every human at our house responsible for her own belongings, never mind another living being and it's accoutrements. And my husband is incredibly good about planning and logistical management, but this would be one more piece of the moving puzzle to figure into the equation. He could handle it, I know, but . . .
Ahhhh. Still deliberating. I'll let you know when we decide anything. If we decide anything. At the moment, procrastination does seem to have its merits.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Learning What Should Have been Learnt
So we're working on efficiency at my household. I don't think I completely learned how to be efficient in my youth. If I had, I would have "learnt" how, not "learned" how, and I would have spelt the word with one fewer letters the first time instead of explaining that my American English spell-check does not recognize the British English spelling. . . . Anyway . . . where were we?
Oh, yes. Efficiency. You can see my predicament. Many of you share it, don't you? Don't kid yourselves. You're not fooling anyone.
As I said, we are working on the subject at my house. I do a very good job of stopping to talk to my children to make sure they've got a shoulder to cry on, a good talking-to, perhaps a slightly older and wiser perspective on a given topic, or just generally explain something that is vague to them. I also do a good job of spending quality time talking with my husband, sharing news and views, chuckles, and appreciation for the darndest things my children said during the day.
Unfortunately, I'm not the multi-tasker that our dear society claims that all women were born naturally to be. Personally, I think it's bunk. I guess I'm more man-like (and I know quite a few women who are likewise in this regard.) than the "average" woman, because I can really only concentrate on one thing at a time with any hope of getting it done a) at all, and b) with any competence. So much for multi-tasking. I like to tell people that I can't chew and walk gum at the same time.
Hence the need for efficiency training at my house.
No, now that our youngest is an over-the-hill five year-old, it is time to move into a new phase of life for all of us. My husband is a fantastic people manager, and I've enlisted his expertise to help keep me on track and moving in the right direction.
He has offered to take on certain household responsibilities so that I can be relieved of them as I move more toward my "working life". You know, life as someone in addition to being "MOM". I put that in all caps as a tribute to all those moms out there who still have the "just a mom", "SAHM" label applied to them at school functions and those events that used to be called cocktail parties.
SAMH's (Stay-At-Home-Mother, for those who aren't familiar with the acronym) of my acquaintance rarely get the chance to stay at home. Most would love to, but there are so many things to accomplish so that the world doesn't collapse in a heap—Oh, wait, it IS doing that just now, isn't it? Some moms somewhere haven't been doing their jobs properly, methinks.
As I was saying before I got sidetracked yet again (do you see my dilemma now?) . . . my dear husband has stepped into the breach to offer his skills in managing my shift into more of a non-SAMH career capacity. He negotiated with my post-adolescent daughter a few hours per week for my escape to a local bar (coffee, of course) for the purpose of having some mostly uninterrupted writing time. You're reading the first fruits of that arrangement right now.
So, with the intention of increasing our efficiency, please allow me to welcome you to Kosars, Inc.! Details to follow. Eventually. I hope.
Oh, yes. Efficiency. You can see my predicament. Many of you share it, don't you? Don't kid yourselves. You're not fooling anyone.
As I said, we are working on the subject at my house. I do a very good job of stopping to talk to my children to make sure they've got a shoulder to cry on, a good talking-to, perhaps a slightly older and wiser perspective on a given topic, or just generally explain something that is vague to them. I also do a good job of spending quality time talking with my husband, sharing news and views, chuckles, and appreciation for the darndest things my children said during the day.
Unfortunately, I'm not the multi-tasker that our dear society claims that all women were born naturally to be. Personally, I think it's bunk. I guess I'm more man-like (and I know quite a few women who are likewise in this regard.) than the "average" woman, because I can really only concentrate on one thing at a time with any hope of getting it done a) at all, and b) with any competence. So much for multi-tasking. I like to tell people that I can't chew and walk gum at the same time.
Hence the need for efficiency training at my house.
No, now that our youngest is an over-the-hill five year-old, it is time to move into a new phase of life for all of us. My husband is a fantastic people manager, and I've enlisted his expertise to help keep me on track and moving in the right direction.
He has offered to take on certain household responsibilities so that I can be relieved of them as I move more toward my "working life". You know, life as someone in addition to being "MOM". I put that in all caps as a tribute to all those moms out there who still have the "just a mom", "SAHM" label applied to them at school functions and those events that used to be called cocktail parties.
SAMH's (Stay-At-Home-Mother, for those who aren't familiar with the acronym) of my acquaintance rarely get the chance to stay at home. Most would love to, but there are so many things to accomplish so that the world doesn't collapse in a heap—Oh, wait, it IS doing that just now, isn't it? Some moms somewhere haven't been doing their jobs properly, methinks.
As I was saying before I got sidetracked yet again (do you see my dilemma now?) . . . my dear husband has stepped into the breach to offer his skills in managing my shift into more of a non-SAMH career capacity. He negotiated with my post-adolescent daughter a few hours per week for my escape to a local bar (coffee, of course) for the purpose of having some mostly uninterrupted writing time. You're reading the first fruits of that arrangement right now.
So, with the intention of increasing our efficiency, please allow me to welcome you to Kosars, Inc.! Details to follow. Eventually. I hope.
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