A visit from the future

Riley was at the vet last week for her yearly checkup, and as we were waiting to go into one of the exam rooms, there was a young & flustered couple about our age waiting to check out with their pets. The wife was reining in a Finnegan sized Bernese mountain dog and a small terrier mix, and the husband was carrying a little baby in a car seat. The very happy Bernese mountain dog (very creatively named Bear) was begging to say hello to me which I was happy to do. Having been raised with Newfoundlands and St. Bernards, I loved having a chance to visit with a dog like that. After some head scratching and tail wagging, the wife took the 2 dogs outside to their car and left the husband to pay the bill.

After he settled the tab, and started to leave, he walked over to a bench and picked up a cat carrier that I hadn’t noticed before. As he was walking to the door, I could tell on his face that he had no idea how to open it while carrying his burdens, so I quickly got up and helped him out.

When I walked back over to Gilday & Riley, I couldn’t help but imagine that same scene in a few years but with us in their places. Although, I’d hope we’d have more sense than to bring them all in at the same time. I can’t imagine having Finn, Riley, Sawyer in his carrier, and then the addition of a newborn on a field trip to see Dr. Mark. I think it would be absolute insanity.

And speaking of newborns, as of today, about 80% of my female friends are pregnant, two of them for the second time. It sort of made me think that maybe we’re missing the boat and should really start sooner than later. Thursday it really hit me and I got really emotional about it. I was questioning our family plan, and second guessing everything we were doing for the future and feeling like our decision to wait was the wrong choice. I’m not one to buckle to peer-pressure on such a heavy decision, but I was feeling the walls crumbling.

On Friday, I kept seeing all the people at work that brought their kids in with their little costumes. I thought that I’d have another one of those days, but while they were cute, the only baby that captured my heart was Cooper, the four month old chocolate lab in his devil dog costume. That silly little dog brought me out of my funk and really helped me overcome that feeling of maternal peer-persuasion. I’d rather be rolling on the floor with a puppy than entertaining a baby at this point in my life.

Our plan is our plan. I realize now that it was completely natural to get caught up in the baby hysteria when everyone you know is doing it. But for us, we’ll keep sticking to the plan. There are so many things’ I need to do for myself before I make that commitment to raising a child. Not to mention the patience I need for my current one.