We have not added a new infant person to our family, but my middle daughter did bring home an abandoned kitten a few weeks ago. He is an adorable little black and white tuxedo moppet and has gone from being small enough to fit in a coffee mug, to turning our entire household upside down with his kitten-ness. It has been interesting watching my teenagers spoil the new “baby” however…
It has been a few years since we added a new animal member to our mix and this is the first one with my kids all being as old as they are. With previous pets, they were playful and welcoming, but not really involved. This time, however, this rambunctious little kitten seems to have brought out the nurturing instincts in all three of them (and their friends as well). Everyone has an opinion about what he should be eating and how often, not to mention that kitten, barely as big as a package of butter, has dozens of toys already! His toys scatter the house much like the toys of a human toddler. And he appropriates just about anything and everything to add to his toy collection—socks, pieces of string, earrings. He carries things around in his mouth like a dog so we never know what we are going to find beneath our feet.
The fact is, he’s getting spoiled and I am NOT the sort of person who spoils and dotes on pets. Neither have my children ever been. But, this baby happened along, I think, at the perfect time. My kids are in the process of becoming less self-absorbed and are quite ready to focus on caring for something tiny and helpless. Doting on the kitten has even made them more affectionate with our older cats—wanting to be sure not to give the kitten all the attention so the experienced family members feel left out. It has been a fascinating transformation and process for this old mother to witness!
Also: Children Can Learn to Be Kind
The Pets Blog