I don't know if you have a dog but, if you do, chances are good that your dog is going to have an "accident" in the house. It makes sense, that the bigger your dog is, the bigger the "accident" will be. We have a Lab. A larger than average Lab. I'm guessing (you see where I'm going) that when he has an "accident", that I'm cleaning up a larger than average "accident."
So, the day came recently, when our larger than average dog had a larger than average accident. OK, I will be honest...IT WAS HUGE! It was overwhelmingly huge! Maybe...it's possible, that this overwhelming feeling was compounded by lack of sleep. Lack of sleep, caused by a dog pacing, which caused a husband to lock said dog in basement after letting him out several times. "This dog can't have to go again!" Right? Wrong! Fast forward to morning. While we are racing around, trying to get out of the house on time, a child goes downstairs to check on the bunny. This is when the dreaded shriek is heard... Ohhhh ggrrosssss!" I have heard this before & I know what this means. With a sigh, I stop what I'm doing to see what the damage is. Note, I did not ask child to rely info- it is never helpful. This is exactly when I feel grossed out, disguised, upset, angry, overwhelmed & utterly hopeless. So, I turn around & walk back upstairs. Unsure of what this means, my husband asks politely "where are you going?" My reply was simple. "I'm leaving, I'll deal with this later."
Fast forward to night. I'm cleaning up dog poo that's been there all day. It's not going well & I'm still angry, upset, overwhelmed, etc. As the kids pass by, they cautiously ask how it's going. I sweetly & very softly (not) reply that I am tired. I'd rather be in bed. This is gross. I hate cleaning up everyone's messes & if they ask for another dog when this one's gone, the answer's NO & this is why! Not my finest moment... As I continued to clean, alone, ranting in my head to myself, I realize that I don't have to have a dog. I don't have to clean up dog poo! I don't have to have cats. I don't have to clean up cat puke! I don't have to have a bunny or chickens...why stop there? I could have someone else clean my house. I'd have to get a job. I wouldn't be able to homeschool. I wouldn't see my kids. I guess, if it's the messes I don't want to clean up, then it would probably be easier to just not have kids... But, is that really what is this about? Messes? Messes are a part of living, they are a part of kids & they are certainly a part of having pets. But, to give up all these messes, I'd really be giving up all the things I hold dear in my life. These things are the frosting on the cake. I don't want to give up these things! I love being a mom & feel blessed to be able to stay home with them.
So, I had a decision to make. How did I feel about cleaning up dog poo? I decided, I liked cleaning up dog poo! Ironicly, we now have a circular stain on our basement carpet which is highlighted, no joke, by one of our ceiling spotlights. So the next time you visit our house, don't be startled by the stain that will be forever on our carpet. It serves as a reminder for all the messes I am blessed to clean up everyday.
Note for next time: stains come up better the quicker I deal with them... :)
