Dog vs Baby

Some of you may remember this post, where Bubbles had a playdate with her doggy friend.

She still does seem to like dogs very much and gets very excited to see them. Unfortunately for her, I'm not prepared to have a dog in our home just yet. Perhaps when she is older and able to care for a pet herself, or at least help out meaningfully in the caregiving.

She has already started to ask for a dog, and has told me straight out that she doesn't want any babies. (Yes I've begun the conversations to prepare her for an eventual sibling that we hope for).

These photos show the kind of 'friendship' she shares with her beloved stuffed toy dog, Sandy:

She talks to Sandy, pats, hugs and kisses him, holds him up to 'look out' the window when in the car, and imagines he is hungry, sad or sick. A couple of times she informed me that he vomit(ed) and that she would clean up - an imagined story stemming no doubt from her own vomitting experience where her Papa had to clean up.

I hope now to help her be aware of her caring side. We can then draw on this when preparing her for a baby brother or sister. God willing!