A Substitute for Children?
On Friday, hubby asked me if he thought our dogs were our attempt at filling a void in our life. We do not have any human babies but both want one or two. So far, no luck.
I answered yes. I do think that the dogs fill a void.
He got mad. 
I was just being honest though. Having four dogs is wonderful and fun and never dull. But would we have four dogs if we had a kid? Probably not. We might have two…MAYBE 3. But four? Ouch. Adding a kid into the mix would make it more painful and difficult and stressful.
We’re still trying for a non-furry two legged kiddo, even with four dogs. We’ll make due and the dogs won’t get the short end of the stick. They are our babies, after all.
But for the moment, they are filling that void. I get to shower my love and attention on them… okay mostly Trooper but I do love them all.
Instead of soccer practice or T-ball games, I take Trooper to agility twice a week. No little kiddo pictures at my desk at work … it’s me and Trooper or our “family portrait” of hubby, me, Quinn, and Kodiak from a couple years ago.
I’m not sure why it upset hubby to think that the dogs are filling a void in our life. I don’t think our family is complete yet and that’s just how I feel. Will I love our dogs any less when a human kid comes along? Of course not. I want to pass on our love for animals to any rug rat we have.
I know that people think we’re a little nuts with our four dogs and all the attention they get. My mom says that when we have “real” kids that our dogs won’t get as much attention. Hubby and I both think she is wrong.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I think that pets fill a very special void, whether you have children or not? I don’t think you are substituting, just loving the pets first….
And by the way….what is in his mouth??? I’m sure it’s a toy, but boy does it look like an animal!!! lol
October 1st, 2008 at 9:48 am
*giggle*
It’s a really raggy old clothe ‘bone’ that we’ve had forever and he seems to like. Having three dogs already we had plenty of toys for him to pick from and he’s picked a couple of his favorites. =)
October 1st, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Maybe the husband gets a little mad cause he feels like he should be able to provide whatever you want/need, including children, and that there should BE no void for you to feel, but that since you do have a filled void he must be doing something wrong.
OR…we could be overanalyzing the situation. -smile-
October 1st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
No matter what’s going on in my life, I always have dogs; they’ll always have a place in my life and heart. I bet it’ll be the same for you two.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
[...] A Substitute for Children? - Home Zookeeper [...]
October 4th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I don’t know what void my animals fill, but they must fill something. My boyfriend asked me that one time, “Why do you always want more animals? What void are you trying to fill?” Haha. I have no idea, I just love them.