This weekend we had Nicholas - Nikki - come and stay with us. He is a little dog from a local pet adoption agency that needs a home. I'm sad to say his new home won't be our home. He is a GREAT puppy! We really had NO issues with him. He obeys his commands, is potty trained, crate trained, and just a super sweet little dog.
OK, now you're thinking..."so what's the problem if he's so great?" I just can't do it right now. It is not the right time for our family. Jackson is a little bit young to understand the difference between playing with the dog and terrorizing it. He is also just too young. period. There are a lot of discipline issues right now with our sweet little 3 year old and having a dog would have complicated things even further. Not to mention the baby and all I'm doing to take care of her.
It broke our hearts to tell Harrison. He was devastated and cried for over an hour. He wants a dog SO bad. Some of you may think I'm cruel! However, Harrison is having to learn that his wants have to meet up with what is best for the whole family. A tough lesson for a 6 year old...for anyone for that matter. After a while of honest discussion, he did start to grasp why we were having to say "no" for now. I left and cried in my room for a while because it broke my heart so much to say no. One of the hardest parenting moments for me to this point. I want to say yes to my boy! Who doesn't? My heart wanted to go for it and my head was saying NO, not yet, it's not time! Such a picture of our relationship with our Heavenly Father! Don't you know it has to break His heart to have to say no to us, even though He knows it's not best. Maybe I'm spiritualizing this too much for you...sorry...it's my blog! ;) It just reminded me that saying YES and giving in is not what parenting is about, sometimes yes, but not always.
I know we'll have a dog someday and this weekend was a great experience for all of us. It was wonderful being able to "try" things out and see whether or not it would work before we just bought a puppy and had to deal with the repercussions! I don't regret it one single bit! We all had a great time with Nikki for the weekend and Harrison understands we are going to have to wait for now.
At least I don't have to worry about him expecting a puppy under the Christmas tree only to have him disappointed! Goodbye Nicholas! Thanks for coming to sleep over! :)
OK, now you're thinking..."so what's the problem if he's so great?" I just can't do it right now. It is not the right time for our family. Jackson is a little bit young to understand the difference between playing with the dog and terrorizing it. He is also just too young. period. There are a lot of discipline issues right now with our sweet little 3 year old and having a dog would have complicated things even further. Not to mention the baby and all I'm doing to take care of her.
It broke our hearts to tell Harrison. He was devastated and cried for over an hour. He wants a dog SO bad. Some of you may think I'm cruel! However, Harrison is having to learn that his wants have to meet up with what is best for the whole family. A tough lesson for a 6 year old...for anyone for that matter. After a while of honest discussion, he did start to grasp why we were having to say "no" for now. I left and cried in my room for a while because it broke my heart so much to say no. One of the hardest parenting moments for me to this point. I want to say yes to my boy! Who doesn't? My heart wanted to go for it and my head was saying NO, not yet, it's not time! Such a picture of our relationship with our Heavenly Father! Don't you know it has to break His heart to have to say no to us, even though He knows it's not best. Maybe I'm spiritualizing this too much for you...sorry...it's my blog! ;) It just reminded me that saying YES and giving in is not what parenting is about, sometimes yes, but not always.
I know we'll have a dog someday and this weekend was a great experience for all of us. It was wonderful being able to "try" things out and see whether or not it would work before we just bought a puppy and had to deal with the repercussions! I don't regret it one single bit! We all had a great time with Nikki for the weekend and Harrison understands we are going to have to wait for now.
At least I don't have to worry about him expecting a puppy under the Christmas tree only to have him disappointed! Goodbye Nicholas! Thanks for coming to sleep over! :)
7 comments:
Just remember to look in the fireplace on Christmas morning:)!!
I know that was hard, but at least you were able to do a trial run and you hadn't already committed and had to take him away. It's a tough lesson and you're right God looks at us the same way. One day your family will be ready and the right puppy will be waiting!
That's a really tough thing, yet it's so nice that you could do a trial run. I never knew such a thing existed! My mother's heart is really feeling for Harrison and you, Beth. These are all big learning opportunities and I know some day Harrison will understand and you'll get the right dog -for your family - at the right time too.
I can't believe you actually gave Nicolas his own blog label!! I know it was a good weekend for all of you to see these things. As hard as it was for you and Harrison,I know it was the right decision and you'll all be glad for it. It's just not the season for it. We talk all the time about the seasons of life and how quickly they go by, so now you can just focus on your own little animals before adding a REAL one! :)
Okay the 3rd pix down of Nicholas is just plain pitiful. Bless his heart...and he just doesn't even know how happy he would have been in the Williams family and all the EXCITEMENT and not to mention he would have been the most photographed dog in NC I'm sure of that.
But girl I don't blame you one bit. There will be a day when you all will be able to have a dog when the children are older. I agree with Katie...there are seasons and sometimes it's just not the right season. But in the mean time give my sweet nephew a big hug from his Aunt Vonda and tell him Harrison it's gonna be okay and one day we'll look forward to meeting his new dog.
no, you didn't over spiritualize it at all! thanks for sharing that. we all need to be encouraged by each other in those VERY HARD moments! you handled that one beautifully!
You can always take one of our dogs for a week or two! :)
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