Day 1314

Our eldest has become quite “sassy!” Ranger knows what he wants and he wants it NOW! Always a confident boy, he now uses that confidence to let us know exactly what is on his “wish list”… by barking at the top of his lungs! Nine times out of ten, he needs to go outside, the water dishes need refilling, it is five minutes until “Tummy Time” or an errant treat had been discovered under a radiator. Every once in a while, he simply wants us to find him and give a belly rub. We are so happy to oblige our senior pup, but there are those times he is barking up a storm and we can’t figure out what he needs…perhaps he forgot exactly what he was barking about!

There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my family (dogs included). However, I have to know what those needs are! Growing up in my family, it must have had modeled to “squelch” our complaints. Somehow, that followed me into my parenting where I attempted to abort problems before anyone even knew they were right in front of them. Consequently, I stuffed my issues down deep and failed to let my own children figure out a route to discover solutions. Somehow, we all survived and eventually learned to share our problems with loved ones. The old adage that “two heads are better than one, is true in this family now.

Share your problems, sadness or angst with trusted loved ones. The load is so much lighter when two or more carry the burden.

I suppose that is what Ranger is doing…simply problem-solving with his people. Actually, it works for him every time!