Since we’ve had an empty nest, I spend more time with our cat, Peppy. I should have done this years ago—- I could have saved myself a lot of aggravation.
Just a few examples:
5 Parenting Lessons I learned from my cat
1. You can’t make them eat something they don’t want to eat.
You might have better luck with a child.
2. Sometimes they don’t want to be with you.
Everyone needs his or her own space. The trick is to enjoy it.
3. If you don’t pressure them, they come to you.
Guilt doesn’t work on a cat, either.
4. Sometimes they hurt you.
Peppy still draws blood almost daily. With kids, it’s usually an accident.
5. Sometimes you hurt them.
I got divorced. And once I slammed the front door on Peppy’s tail. At least eventually the kids forgave me.
Cats are a tough audience.
Garrison Keillor once posed the question, “How would you know if you had a deaf cat?” In terms of response to human voice command, it’s not so easy to discern. On the other hand, if you use an electric canopener to unseal their victuals, you have a reliable benchmark of their audial acuity!
My goodness, but you are wise. I always knew my cats were good practice for parenting. Maybe you should write a book…
Maybe the fact that I had a cat for years before ever having kids is why I’m so mellow with them now. My expectations were low, very very low.
If my daughter doesn’t want to eat something, it’s not going to happen. LOL
Another thing I’ve learned about parenting from cats:
Don’t leave things out you don’t mind having destroyed. (For cats, it’s primarily paper in any form. The cats do it intentionally. My daughter? Not so much. LOL)
Marci
Based on the comments, it’s YOU who are wise. And cat-savvy.
I just wish I’d thought of practicing on a cat BEFORE I had the kids.
If only they could talk? Well they actually do loud and clear. We need to pay greater attention to their language and lexicon. I have learned so much from my boys, Mackie and Spencer, two smart, loving , wise schnauzers. My life is enriched from their simple insights.
I agree that animals talk. Peppy makes her statements loud and clear. All we have to do is obey.
What do you have to say to the fact that sometimes you don’t want to be with them? Does that ever happen with cats, or just kids?
Happens with both of them. Unfortunately time-outs work much better with kids than with cats.