Motherhood
Dear Frankie,
My girlfriends rave about being a mother.
So, when I discovered I was going to have a litter of pups, I was thrilled. I loved those tender moments with my five adorable babies during the first weeks. I couldn’t get enough of their smell or how they felt when nursing and snuggling.
As they grew, however, so did their razor-sharp teeth and their never-ending demand to be fed. I don’t know what was worse, the nursing pain or the lack of sleep. I knew it wasn’t their fault. So, I did everything possible to be a good and loving mom. But it wasn’t easy.
When my human mom told me to prepare myself because my pups would soon be adopted, I pretended I was sad. But honestly, I was ecstatic. Is it terrible that I felt this way?
Gracie
Dear Gracie,
Of course, it is not terrible. Many female canines feel that being a mother is not all it is cracked up to be. Giving birth to five puppies and caring for them 24/7 is no walk in the park. Not every female is cut out to be a mother.
Motherhood is often romanticized. Really who wants to be chewed on and called upon to deliver nonstop for eight weeks? But for some females, the pleasures of motherhood outweigh the discomforts.
I want to commend you for two things, Gracie. One for your honesty, and two, for taking on a task that was more difficult than you ever had imagined, and giving it your best.
Best, Frankie
© 2022 Geneva Woodruff
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