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Feeling 'mom guilt' for the dogs

I give up. I'm tired of yelling "No!" Cassie, if you'd like to lick the dirty dishes as I'm loading the dishwasher, go for it.

Some days I don't have the energy to enforce the rules we've set for the dogs. Especially after I've chased a crawling baby through the house, consoled him when he cried, cooked dinner and made lunches for the next day.

Cassie and Greta can do what they like. They aren't getting the attention they need.

Last night my husband started petting Cassie and said, "When was the last time you got a good petting?" And I said, "Too long."

Some days it's much harder than I expected, being a good mother to Noah, a good wife to my husband and a good dog owner to Greta and Cassie. Some days I have to choose, and I rarely choose the dogs. And I feel guilty.

They are loved. They are fed. They are sheltered.

And some days, that has to be enough.

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Tags: Cassie, Greta, dogs, Noah

Posted by Andrea Martin on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 9:49 am

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boys1713

January 5, 2012 - 9:00 am EST

Don't feel guilty--some days you just have to do the best you can. When/if you have another child it will be a child who doesn't always get the time they need. However, you will feel better, no matter how tired you are at the end of the day, if you take a few minutes to just get out in the fresh air with your dogs--if it is cold bundle up and breathe the fresh air. Dogs don't wear watches so they don't know if it is 15 min or 1 hr and 15 min just walk around the yard or sit on the porch and love them once you go back inside all will be better. Dishes can wait and if you use clean clothes from the laundry basket so be it, take time to enjoy the little things that are important to you and if you feel better then life will move along more smoothly.

Andrea Martin

January 5, 2012 - 3:16 pm EST

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate you saying that.

zelliegirl

January 5, 2012 - 8:37 pm EST

At least you offer them food, shelter and allow them to lick the dishes in the dishwasher. Some people decide they just don't have time for them anymore with a new baby, or children after 2 or 5 years. So they bring them to the shelter and leave them. One of the most common reasons. They still know you love them when you pat them on their head and fill their food bowl. Don't worry life will slow down and they will still love you tomorrow.

Andrea Martin

January 6, 2012 - 9:48 am EST

Thanks for saying this. They may not get walked every day, but they spend a lot of time with us in the evenings, playing with our son and just being part of the family. And when our son is old enough, he'll be helping with dog duties and that will make it all easier.