My kids have been asking for a dog since the minute they could talk. They promised everything. They would walk her. Feed her. Pick up the poop. Play with her. Basically, they were going to raise her themselves while I simply admired from afar.
I should’ve known better.
One day, they begged me to go into a pet shop just to look. One look turned into a lady handing my kids a puppy. The puppy started licking their faces. Everyone was smiling. I wasn’t — I was already calculating vet bills and sleep loss.
I was doomed.
Next thing I know, I’m walking out with a puppy and adding another living being to my already chaotic life. Getting a puppy as a busy mom felt less like getting a dog and more like bringing home another baby. A cute baby. A very bitey baby.
Life With a New Puppy and Kids
The first few weeks were exactly what you’d expect: accidents on the floor, chewed shoes, interrupted sleep, and constant supervision. The kids helped… enthusiastically… for about five minutes. After that, it was mostly me.
Walking her at 6 a.m. in the rain.
Crate training.
Wondering how something so small could create so much mess.
Would I do it again?
Ask me on a day when I’m not outside at 6 a.m., in the rain, walking a puppy who absolutely refuses to be rushed.
The crate training lasted five days.
Five small whines later, she had officially claimed her spot in my bed — and that was the end of crate training as I knew it.
She’s loud, needy, always underfoot, and completely obsessed with her people. She made our house messier, our schedule fuller, and our hearts bigger. She’s one more thing to juggle — and one more reason we laugh.
Things to Buy
(Things I didn’t realize I’d need but now can’t live without)
- Puppy pads (even when you swear you won’t need them)
- Poop bags — everywhere, always
- A sturdy leash and harness
- A dog bed (mostly decorative, apparently)
- Chew toys to save your furniture
- Dog wipes for muddy paws
- Treats — lots of treats
Adding a puppy didn’t calm the chaos. It added fur, noise, and a whole lot of love — and somehow, that makes it worth it.
Full-hearted life, fur and all 🐾💛
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