Sometimes I wonder whether my husband and I love our cats too much. One (awesome) parent friend called our enthusiastic sharing of photos "baby picture time!" and while we laughed it off, it was totally right.
That said, our three cats are totally our babies. Our phones are full of photos of them. They're prominent in our social media and we talk about them ad nauseum. As we watch our youngest grow we get excited about the littlest things. We squeal with happiness and watch when he plays with his brother and sister. We're overjoyed he's learning the wonder and warmth of laps. We cuddle all of them and love them so very much. All three of them are sociable, extremely affectionate and super snugglers. They are, without question, our family, as we declare happily whenever we have occasion to have all three of them with us at once.
I'd never equate having cats to raising children, but it fulfills so much of the same emotions for both of us. The love I feel for them is incredibly strong, and in the moments when I know they love us — when they take turns sitting on our laps, or when our little girl curls up to sleep on me every single night at bedtime, or when our big boy paws at us for loving — it's powerful stuff.
Especially while I'm fighting with my brain chemistry against Seasonal depression that's making everything seem a pretty gloomy, they bring me joy without fail. Cat cuddles make the worst thing better, and they're bringing me much solace. I look at them and think that this is the life. I don't need more than them. Between them and my friends' kids who we spoil rotten and enjoy plenty of Kodak moments with, life is really damn good.
13 comments:
Awww, that's exactly how we are with our cats!
Me too. There is nothing quite like snuggling a warm, contented cat to get you back on an even keel :)
This is how my husband and I feel about our dogs. And it is a scientific fact that the joy of animals improves people's health and wellbeing :) Nothing puts a smile on my face like watching my dogs play, even when I'm having a bad day. They give my life purpose when I feel like it has none.
I feel the same way. Although, I will say taking care of my 3 is a little like raising kids, sometimes. =)
I always feel bad when people talk about their pets and I ask if they have a pic on their phone - but when people talk about their kids, I'm never interested in seeing a picture! I can't help it, fur babies are so much cuter.
Hi Stasha,
I tried emailing you, but I can't find your contact info. As a fellow childfree blogger, I was wondering if you would like to help me out. I've had a childfree blog (in French, called Being a mom? No thanks!) and I've been working on a childfree feature length documentary film for over 3 years.
Though I've applied for many grants, I've always been refused funding because "not having children" is too controversial a subject.
So I'm trying to finish it, (it's already been completely shot and now we're editing it) and I thought about calling out to the community through crowdfunding.
Here is the link you can share:
http://www.indiegogo.com/Maman-Non-merci?a=44361
Sorry to spam you like this here, this is not my intention at all. I hope this is OK because I thought this could interest you and your readers :) Please email me so we can discuss this :)
Magenta Baribeau
http://mamannonmerci.blogspot.com
I love my dog the way you love your cats. I can't imagine life without her.
I can totally relate! Btw, so nice to find your blog know that we are not the only ones who feel this way.
Aww, I bet they are sooo cute!!
If you'd like, I'd would not mind seeing some pics of them here.
I could've written your post, it feels so good to see someone else writing the stuff I feel...because I feel so alone. My husband and I love our cat boy. Like you wrote, "I don't need more than them" - that's exactly how I feel. Please keep writing, it is such a comfort when one feel alone.
My cat Lola makes me happy. Way happier than I'd be with a kid. :)
I just found your blog today and am so sad to read about your depression. I hope you can be surrounded by people you support your (and my) decision to not have children, and beyond being just supportive can also encourage you that you've made the right decision for you. I understand wanting to fit in...I feel the same way sometimes, except that I know in my heart I'm not meant to be a mom. I don't think it's something I've ever wanted. A lot of my friends are just now having their first or second kids, and I think it's just as weird for them to think about me not wanting kids as it is for me trying to imagine why anyone would want them. Thanks for writing this blog...I think I might need to direct some mom friends here. You write what I'm thinking/feeling in a much more compassionate and concise way. Hope you feel better soon!!
We call ours our kitty-kids. We feel the EXACT same way about our cats. They are our children (or as close to children as we'd like to get!). For me, they fulfill that sense of nurturing and reciprocated unconditional love.
There is no sound my dog has ever made that is even close to the degree of annoyance of a whining, crying baby/child. Call me sound sensitive, but I feel like crying whining kids is the worst sound ever! Just 1 of 58 reasons I don't want to live with kids! Or breed any. My dog brings me peace and love and joy. I've never gotten that from any of the kids I've babysat for.
Post a Comment