When I was a kid, our cat had repeated litters of kittens (this before parents knew better and spaying wasn’t a thing). Some of my earliest traumatic memories involve those kittens.
The time, for example, my toddler brother accidentally killed one by slamming the kitten in a car door — it was Halloween and I went to the Kindergarten costume parade with kitten blood on my white Casper the Friendly Ghost costume.
The extra kittens who were dropped off at the pet store or Humane Society — I feel haunted by all that still.
The responsibilities involved in the creation of Life are adult activities.
Moonshadows
Yesterday, as I fretted and worried about Claire, I kept imagining the experience from the perspective of a child and was reminded why the kitten memories are still so traumatic.
Bright Stars Zaniah and Sun
Children should never be burdened with things that exceed their developmental capacity, and that includes the creation and maintenance of Life.
In fact, I feel a bit outraged this morning on behalf of children whose parents think casually breeding a dog or cat so the kids can experience the miracle of life is a good plan. They might want to consider how the child might feel when worried their beloved dog might die.
Putting kids (or puppies) in situations where they experience fear and terror — and yet cannot do anything about it — is a great recipe for imprinting traumatic memories. Life will throw enough at the young ones — don’t do more on purpose.
Claire is better but not 100%. Do you know how long it takes to eat a cup of kibble 1 - 2 pieces at a time, with pauses every 20 or so pieces?!
A long time.
My dogs do not eat primarily kibble on a regular basis — they get a variety of foods — but puppy kibble is calorie-dense and that is what is needed. Besides, she won’t eat anything else at the moment besides kibble and Animal Crackers.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner of the Nauseous!
The Bright Stars are all just fine — nursing was not interrupted by Claire’s illness. They are all happy little hippos.
Bright Star Sun says, “who are you calling a hippo?!”
Zaniah was the first escapee from the box — Heze considered an attempt but aborted it.
Over at the Moonshadows, developmental milestones are being ticked off right and left. Eyes are opening and now puppies are staggering — the Drunken Dinosaur stage has arrived!
The Moonshadows are all so lovely…
And Daisy is an easy and competent mom who is always happy to eat. Thank goodness!
Rosebud wants the Moonshadows to be renamed: Rosebud’s Squad.
The puppies have presents!
But I have meetings, class, and a webinar — and since I am the webinar presenter, I need to focus on all that first and will open presents as the reward for finishing all the things.
Have a wonderful day — and please eat!
Evening Report & Pics
After a stressful 36 hours, I am pleased to share that Claire is feeling better!
She is back to eating — okay, yes — from my hand but still — she is eating! This breeding thing is definitely rated Adult Content for gore, stress, bad language, suspense, and so on.
Whew.
But the puppies are incredibly cute!
Rosebud recruiting for her Squad
Moonshadows
Do you see Andy’s eye?