|
Remember Your Pets This Holiday Season
By J Gardener
In the Martin household, last Christmas Eve was typical, for a family with
two children under six. Marci and Dan got the kids to bed as early as they could
manage- which really wasn't early at all, considering all that pre-school
adrenaline pumping at the thought of actually catching Santa in the act of
dropping down the chimney. Then the young parents spent the next three hours
assembling dollhouses and bicycles, installing batteries in video consoles,
pushing their inquisitive dog, Jazzy, out of the way, boxing and wrapping new
childrens' clothes, and leaving milk and cookies for Santa.
By the time Marci and Dan got to bed they were as exhausted as…well, as
parents on Christmas Eve, and they slept like babies, until…
"Mommy!"
Marci woke, as if she'd been slapped-as any mother would. Five-year-old Gina
stood by the bed, her eyes wide with excitement.
"I hear him! I hear Santa!"
Marci sighed, started to tell Gina to go back to bed, then she heard it, too.
Something downstairs. She poked Dan-he grunted and rolled the other way, still
snoring. She jumped up and rushed down the hall to Josh's room. Her
four-year-old son was sound asleep, just like his dad. Typical.
There it was, again. Someone-or something-moving around, downstairs. Marci
tried to act calm as she put her daughter back to bed, assuring Gina that Santa
didn't want to be disturbed. She tried to wake Dan, again-as if.
Realizing that their safety was in her hands, she grabbed a baseball bat from
Josh's room (one of those tiny souvenir bats), and crept down the stairs,
terrified but determined to protect her family from whatever intruder lurked
down there in the darkness-even if it was Santa himself. She tiptoed into the
living room, and, prepared to do battle, she flicked on the light-and there he
was, calmly sitting in the middle of the room, shredded wrapping paper and torn
boxes everywhere.
Jazzy, the beloved family terrier. He stared at Marci with a look that, she
later said, she instantly understood to mean: "What about me? Aren't I a part of
this family, too? You forgot to walk me, tonight!"
Your pet is a part of your family. Your dog or your cat or your bird
lives in a comfort zone, based on the habits of the household, which rarely
change, from day-to-day. Your dog is used to being walked at certain times, your
cat is used to eating at certain times, your bird is used to the house being
empty at certain times. Change in these habits can cause stress, which your pet
may respond to in annoying or destructive ways.
The holiday season is full of surprises, for the whole family. Schedules tend
to be more fluid than usual, and parties, shopping, or late-night wrapping
sessions can divert your attention, causing you to forget Jazzy's walk. But
Jazzy won't forget-he knows exactly when he should be circling the block. His
only real desire in life is to please you, and in return, all he needs is the
assurance that you haven't forgotten him.
He doesn't want to ruin your Christmas Eve. He just wants to be a part of it.
Remember Jazzy, or Tabby, or Tweety, as you celebrate this holiday season. They
feel joy, too, especially when they feel your love. About the Author Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, focused on how families get by in this wonderful world of ours. To help create the perfect family holiday scene in your home and for the best selection of GKI/ Bethlehem Lighting visit http://www.holidaylighting.com.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/42853.html
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/42853.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked. |
Some other articles by J Gardener | Sharing the Joy at Christmas time Terri is one of those women other mothers either envy or resent. With two
boys, both under six, she's always sunny and upbeat, even as ...
On the Plane with Kids It's not "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house",
anymore. Your new and growing family lives a thousand miles away ...
Presents Vs. Time It's hard enough for most parents
to arrange good, quality family-time, under normal circumstances. But in
December, with holiday ...
Parents Can Help Each Other At Christmas The first few years that they were parents, Gail and Darin dreaded the stress
of the Christmas season. The difficulty of shopping with a child in a stroller
made an already arduous task even more ...
Planning for Christmas Past Your child's at the age, now, when she understands that Christmas is coming,
and that it's a very special day, so you're going out of your way ...
Enjoy the Snow Remember how your parents always seemed old to you, even before they reached
middle age? They could never relate to you, they could never remember what it
was like to ...
|
|
| |