Last week, I went into a local specialty pet store to buy Leo his food. (I bought one normal-sized bag six weeks ago, when I adopted him, and he’s just now finished it.) They had this whole little rack of toys sitting there, and Leo was being adorable and polite, so I decided to get him a new toy. There was this furry yellow Big Bird-lookin’ toy that made a little squeak when you push on it hard enough. I never in a million years thought Leo would be big enough or strong enough to make it squeak.
So I bought the Big Bird, which was a very fortunate thing, because it turned out to be Leo’s soulmate. Seriously Leo has found his soulmate at the age of 14 weeks, and I’m still looking at 26 years. Not fair. But Leo freakin’ loves this thing. He totes it around the house in his mouth all day. He hates having to set it down. They’re BFF. Sometimes I get jealous of the Big Bird toy.
It’s also lovely because now my apartment has its very own soundtrack. The soundtrack goes like this: “squeak squeak squeak SQUEEEEEEEEEAK!!! squeak squeak SQUEAK squeak SQUEEEEEEEEEAK!!!” all day long. It’s horrifically annoying. And I can’t take the toy away because it’s Leo’s soulmate, and I’m afraid if he can’t keep it he’ll spend the rest of his life searching, like his mommy, and he’ll blame me and hate me for it and wear black lipstick and skip school and start smoking speed in his early teens. Parenting is so complicated.
My friend Marta and I had a lovely brunch in Capitol Hill this morning, and then we took Leo to play at a nearby park. The park was gorgeous, and he was in absolute heaven! They had this wide fountain thing with only a few inches of water, that Leo could play in, and he enjoyed skipping around and jumping in and out of the water. At one point, he stood up on the ridge of the fountain, got a running start toward the end, and sailed halfway across the sidewalk. It was probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. We all applauded. By the time we left, we’d attracted a full-on audience. People just stopped to watch Leo play in the fountain. He’s that cute. I should have set down an empty guitar case for tips.
Between “raising” Leo and watching a gazillion episodes of Jon & Kate Plus Eight, I am now officially obsessed with the idea of raising kids of my own. I mean, I’ve wanted kids since I was a teenager, but now I’m just in complete and total maternal instinct mode. I spent a bunch of this weekend researching the possibility of adopting a kid from overseas (from all I’ve read, it’s very difficult for single women to adopt in the US), and it’s still an option, but I think maybe right now I’m too young to commit to raising a child on my own for its entire life. So now I have a new idea: foster parenting. I know it’s really stressful, but it’ll give me a chance to be a “mother” without making the lifelong commitment, and maybe make a tiny positive difference for a kid. I know there a billion emotional issues involved, and I haven’t made a decision either way yet — I need to pray about it a lot still, but I’m definitely in info-gathering mode. Does anyone have any experience with fostering? I’d love to hear about it, pros and cons. I’ve done a ton of reading, but there’s nothing like hearing personal experiences.
I totally agree with you! I got my puppy a little tiny bear with a squeaker in it, and oh my dog i hate the damn thing! I too thought she wouldnt be able to squeak it, ha yeah right. When i try to take it, she runs under my bed. When she eats or drinks, she hides it under the couch or bed so i cant take the damn thing.
Yeah yeah, what breed is he?
pierce the squeaker with a knife so it doesnt work anymore.
Take the lil squeaker thing out :)
My parents did foster care for as long as I can remember, I was their first. There are pro’s to Foster care, such as children get a good home till they can be placed some where forever. but the Cons are that not all kids are good kids, nor will they find homes. Another Con/Pro Is that My mother ended up adopted 5 of us, bringing the grand total in our house to 6 at one point. She continued to do foster care until she decided she was just WAY too old.
But you never know about the single mother thing, Our last two foster kids, Latasha (18 and mentally retarded to the age of 4 on a good day.) and Curtis (Aka Ooh” who was 7 and had downs syndrome) had been with us for 5-6 years, and because Little city refused to split the two up, a single mother got both of them. A single mother who clearly can handle a 18 year old drooling and throwing chairs when you make her put her puzzle away.
I’ve always wanted to do foster care, mainly because I love having a full house, and when you’re done.. You just give them back! \o/
Aww Beet, he’s such a cutie; i love his ears!! :3
Um. You live in the D.C. area? My parents live in Arlington and I travel to see them sometimes, when they’re not pissing me off and I feel like it. I wanna be yer friend!
P.S. Oh, yes. I meant to agree with original poster rubyredrage. Stab the shit out of that squeaker! That way, he gets to keep his toy — but with RESERVATIONS.
Fostering is quite a long process; they have to be absolutely certain that you can and will take care of a child- otherwise there’s no way you’d be able to foster. Even if they think you’d be able to take care of a kid, something like the size of your house or the area you live in could influence their decision in barring you from fostering. You have a dog as well, which could mean that the children could have allergies or get too attached. That’s how it is in London anyway, I don’t know about America. But you’re right about the single women thing; whether it’s fostering or adopting, you need to be able to prove that you have enough income to support a child.
That’s an elephant BTW.
And if you have any sewing skills you may be able to get it open and get the toy out. But the squeaking may be what your little doggy likes about it so he may get sad or just abandon the toy if the squeaker’s gone.
This is going to sound awful, but I was in Paris this weekend and it seems there are a lot of people there adopting young African children.
I kept wanting to say, “hey, you’ve got Madonna’s baby.”
Don’t kill the squeaker Beet! My dog loves her squeaky toys too, and once the squeaker dies (because she punctures it by accident) she never looks at it the same again. Leo loves the squeak, and you will get used it it….
As for fostering, 2 of my friends did it in their mid to late 20s. They both loved it but it was incredibly hard due to the type of child that often needs fostering. You’re talking about high-needs children; often with emotional or physical problems. They had a few kids who suffered from FOS along with the host of side issues that goes hand in hand, such as ADHD.
And while I think that what you want to do is very noble and loving, I would recommend against it. They were married and you are on your own. These kids need firm boundaries and constant attention, and you don’t have a partner to sub in for you when you’re stressed. You’re also only 26 and it would completely change every aspect of your life, and I think 26 is still pretty young for that type of challenge.
I would suggest a mentoring program instead, which is what I’m involved in. They would match you with a high risk girl (aged 12-18ish) or special needs child who you would meet with at least once a week to provide support and guidance. It’s incredibly rewarding and a little more manageable for your current place in life. There’s something very powerful watching a girl who was once 13 and considering dropping out of school enter into college at age 18.
But that’s just my opinion.
He’s a cutie…Don’t alter his toy, please. You’ll get used to it or learn how to tune the noise out after a while. It’s practice for when you do infact have a child. They’re going to have toys they like that make annoying sounds. Eventually like most parents, such as myself, you tune the bad out.
Great advice Roma.
Fiona started with one….now has like 20. I am often lulled to sleep by the squeaks.
Honestly she really gets upset when they stop as he will start to pull out the squeaker as well…that is always the fun part.
:) Can’t wait for Fiona and Leo to meet.
Beet, it might be prudent to start with baby steps…Seattle has an active Big Brothers Big Sisters program (bbbs.org), something like that might be a great way to get your maternal feet wet, while doing genuine good stuff. Like Roma said, they’ll match you up with a young girl & you’ll hook up with her on a weekly basis & basically be a “big sister”.
Just wanted to say I got my own dog when I moved out and went to college. Then dated and moved in with someone who had dogs, then our dogs mated and had more dogs. Greatest experience of my life. Had my first kid when I was 35 and #2 is due next month. If it hadn’t been for all my canine children, I would be unfit as a mother.
And I completely agree with the poster that suggested a Big Brother, Big Sister program. Or you could volunteer at the local YWCA or Boys/Girls Club. More power to you!
Leo has to be the cutest dog in the world!
Leo is just adorable!
my little doggie also has those toys he loooooves them but his favorites are the squirrle, the sheep, and the rubber chicken..now he is in love with the chicken…if you try to take it away from him he will bark foreverr!! and then he gets sad so he always has it lol..but beet your doing an amazing job raising him!
hows the smoking thing going?
Girl, the squeaker will eventually die….it just takes a few weeks.
I learned this the hard way, too.
i know you probably wont get around to answering this question, but what kind of dog is Leo? Is he a chihuahua Pomeranian mix? he looks mostly chi, but i have a friend with a pomchi and she looks just like Leo. I really think he’s adorable!! i must know!!
My goodness, Jon and Kate Plus Eight was on tv yesterday and I remembered you mentioned the show… and I’m quite partial to Asian Caucasian babies, so I watched one episode. Little did I know, it was a god damn marathon! I had to cancel plans because I got so hooked!
you should take the squeaky thing out of the toy if it drives you mad, either that or if he’s anything like any dog’s ive ever came across he’ll probably devour the squeaky bit in time and still love the toy haha.
My best friend in high school was from a family of lots of fostered children. They we’re all from very different families but every single one of them were pretty troubled :/
Thats the only experience i’ve had with foster care though, so obviously i’m not really the expert and a lot of people have already left you much more helpful comments.
Leo is the cutest dog ever, i now come on here all the time looking for updates about him! *——*
what type of dog is he? anyone?
xox
Buy him another toy {same} take the squeaker out and if he doesn’t have fits, eventually take the squeaker toy away.. You should have several anyway; to wash and dry while the other is in use.
The squeaker is okay, as long as you don’t get another nasty “anonymous” note from a neighbor. :)
Leo is just a little cutie. My dog loves squeakers. I actually buy extra squaker replacements at Petsmart when my Norway tears them out of his favorite toys. I don’t mind the noise because then I know he is happy playing.
My dog looooves her squeakie toys and won’t play with them once the squeak breaks. It’s really cute, but she doesn’t do it all day long. Please don’t take away the squeak; dogs luuurve it!
I have thought about fostering (but I’m single and 24). I agree with the above posters that a big sisters program would be a great start. My friends who have started families are so wiped out with just one toddler and two parents.
I also can’t believe that Jon and Kate is what’s making you MORE excited about motherhood! That show wigs me out, man. I love kids, but not that much. =)
Hey Beet – I agree with the posters above who mentioned the Big Sisters program – a friend of mine at work has a Little Sister and the little girl gets a lot out of their relationship.
What’s the rush Beet? I’m 29, I met my boyfriend 3 years ago and sometimes I feel like, “I’m going to be 30 soon! I need to have a baby now!” But really, this day in age, you’re hardly behind. Be patient and you will meet the man you deserve and have mini-Beets.
ahhhh squeakers…..i live with a two y/o Jack, and he is sooooo convinced that i find the constant squeaking sexxy, as he does it whilst laying on his back showing me what he lost in the vets office. yes beet, its a serenade, you like it, he loves it. you love it…you’ll have a friend for life.
My little guy is 5 now, I always told him not to squeak… no squeaky… no squeaky… which he quickly figured out not to squeak around me, which is funny, because once in a while I hear him going squeak crazy in the other room- which is all good with me!!!!!
It’s all in how you train them. He’s a great little guy, and obviously if he listens to you, all the better! Like…. get OFF of the dining room table!!!
hahaha!!!!!!!
lol long dong silver. i have to tell mine the same thing! :)
So, I’m a wee bit older then u, 28, and have a 7 year old son of my own. Things happened in a way that I have been home for the last year and a half and would stay home for another 4 years. So I decided to foster kids for the time being because at this point in time I cannot have any biological kids. Got my licence, which is a whole different story, and the state gave me a 4 year old adorable little girl. I knew nothing of her past when she came into my home, but her story, as I found out later was that her dad sexually molested her. SOB went to all the required meetings and has been trying to get her back and it looks like he is going to. Emma is scared of him, she cries every time I have to take her for visitation and it breaks my heart to see her fear, yet the idiots at the State of Michigan feel that no matter how bad the biological parents are if they feel remorse for their actions and show improvement then they can get their kids back. In some cases, sure I see the point, but here, it is just plain wrong. The little girl hates him, he is a convicted pedofile and if she is to back to him I really think that the history would repeat itself. I am able to give her a good home, they are telling me now that I am too emotionally involved, but heck, they are trying to ruin this baby’s life and at this point I will do anything in my power to not get her reunited with that sick father of hers, thankfully money is not an object. I would like to adopt her if possible if not at least see her go to another good and happy home where she will be well cared for and not potentially put in harms way, yet the laws are not in my favor here. So Beet, if you get involved learn about the state laws before you face a situation like mine, as I would not wish this on the worst enemy.
Beet you can play with my Big Bird if you want. Well, it is more of a small tweety bird but it is still yellow.
If you get a foster child, I will be it’s aunt. I have alot of practice and good references. :-)
Love your Aunt Nonnie
Beetie…Cut the tag off the toy. He’s too cute for tackiness! How’s the smoking cessation going?
Fosters have “problems” because of what was done to them, but they have free therapy for these kids that you can get them into and personal attention and care work wonders, ive had family in foster care before and it was the best thing that could have happened and it did force the actual parent to shape up. read the series by Dave Pelzer “A Child Called It” “The Lost Boy” “A Man Named Dave” to get even a vague hint of what these kids go though and what they can act like before you decide.
O M G! Isnt parenting hard?
I have a little emo chi-ter. mix.
All he does is writing lame poetries and death threats.
i love your blog
I agree with FrozeRightHere. Dude, babies and puppies, while both cute, are much different. Take it slow.