Day in and day out, I am reminded by otherwise lovely and caring individuals why having children is a “game changer.”
Ignoring the wasted sports analogy, at least on me, is there anyone not already aware of this fact?
Let’s be real, this whole life altering business is the main reason I’ve shirked parenthood for years. The idea of giving birth to a tiny human and NOT having your life transformed in a ginormous way is more elusive than a tap dancing, winged unicorn wearing Chuck Taylors, which makes me wonder why friends and family alike feel compelled to repeatedly tell me.
I’ve done some thinking, which is always dangerous I know, and I’ve narrowed down their logic to two reasons: 1) They’re just so damn excited for me to join their club or 2) They’re nervous about my maternal instincts kicking in, so they’re prepping me the best way they know how. While I’m fairly certain their reasoning leans more towards the former and has nothing to do with me saying I will give the babe only a box and a wooden spoon, I figure it can’t hurt to ease their fears.
Therefore you should know, I’m not going into this whole motherhood business completely blind. I own cats, two of them at present and while they are no match for a tiny human, they have certainly prepped me for parenthood in a number of ways. Allow me to explain.
How Cats Have Prepared Me For Parenthood
Babies are the cat’s pajamas. It’s virtually impossible not to fall in love with those teeny tiny feet and their newborn smell.
The same is true of kittens. Their little bitty paws and furry bodies make my heart melt.
Babies wake you up at all hours of the night, wanting to be fed.
Your feline friends will too and without the structured confines of a crib. They jump on your head, run on closed doors, and knock things off your night side table until you meet their demands.
Babies make things like privacy and pooping in peace a thing of the past. I lost that years ago with Oscar.
In fact, cats have little to no regard for personal space. They believe your body is their temple, always; whereas breast feeding ends at some point in time unless you’re looking to set a world record.
Newborns bring with them a host of dirty diapers, blowouts, spit up, and projectile vomiting.
With your four legged friends, well they will lovingly puke on your new furniture five minutes after you’ve brought it into the house. You will step in wet fur balls more times than you can count; barefoot too.
I’ve been put to the test. I’ve wiped furry backsides since the fluffy one needs a little help, and I’ve cleaned my fair share of shit off the walls, the stairs, the floors, the carpet. You name it, Oscar’s managed to crap on it. I’m pretty sure he has IBS.
Which leads me to my next point. Babies and cats alike will drive you to drink, although the latter will steal your food too, the second you turn your back, and they’ll growl at you when you try to reclaim it. There will be days you will growl back.
Toddlers will bring you nonsensical crayon drawings, macaroni art, and popsicle picture frames which you will pretend is the next Mona Lisa, before sneaking it into the bin.
Cats will bring you rodents, hopefully dead. You will congratulate them on their prize before asking your spouse to get rid of the unwanted object.
You have to keep your eye on babies every single second.
On the flip side, you will find your felines are always watching you. They’re like ninjas, everywhere and nowhere all at once.
The similarities when it comes to tiny humans and furry friends are virtually endless.
They both throw tantrums.
They hoard the bed and all the covers.
Neither listens, especially when you tell them the counter is off limits.
They get into the most unusual of circumstances.
They cause you to lose sleep and worry all night.
And when it comes to control, we all know who’s really in charge.
Last, babes and felines alike will look at you like you’re the only one who matters, which is what makes it all worthwhile.
Thanks for letting me Think Out Loud today, Ms. Amanda.
How have your pets prepped you for parenthood?
lol so true in so many ways. I think my toy poodle cindy sort of prepared me, although, I grew up with her as my pet, she was really my parents’ responsibility. life is never the same once a baby is born and it’s grueling and challenging but it all goes in phases that with each one, you know it will pass and in some ways, although things get harder at times, it does get easier as you et used to it. the newborn phase which was THE WORST for me, went so so fast. It’s almost like you say the quote, and this too shall pass, yet looking back, you want to savor each moment because aw they are so cute 🙂
meredith @ Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted…Thank you, Food Shopping & Recipes Galore
I hear the time flies by way faster than you’d like and before you know it, you’re wanting those days back. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
Oh.my.GOD. I had to bite my hand to stop laughing out loud and waking my flatmate from her afternoon nap. I LOVE this post. I mean, Oscar stuck in the glass? Dying.
Also, is that him as a baby? Dying again.
I don’t have a cat and no kids and I am not pregnant either. Clearly, I am clueless about life.
Lucie@FitSwissChick recently posted…So… and what are you doing now?
Yep, that is totally baby Oscar. Those are some of my favorite pictures of him.
I’m so glad you liked the post. I was definitely going for funny; it’s nice to know I hit the mark. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
Cats also run to the door when you get home demanding your attention. They usually want food, attention or in true Lassie fashion, to lead me to Timmy who fell down the well (you will only get that reference if you watched Lassie) 🙂 My cats also knock down the garbage and stand there while I clean it up. I forsee a lot of that in your future with your baby. The one good thing about cats, you didn’t have to push them out after carrying them inside you for 9 months 🙂
Ellie recently posted…Fast Friday #6
Oh yes, the first thing I do every morning and when I get home from the office each day is feed the cats. They run the show for sure.
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
So true so true, especially the part about no surface being sacred. But there will be one moment the first time the cat inadvertently does something towards the baby where it changes… You will sit back and feel that click and go, oh shit.
Is this a good click or a bad click between cat and baby? Don’t tell me they’ll plot together to overthrow me. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
Dyyyyinnggggg.
Oh my god. In the wine glass. The creeper shots. The chipmunk! Oscar is totally a ninja.
Thank you. Thank you for giving me a belly laugh.
Oh and I never had a doubt you were lacking parental abilities. You are obviously already well, well experienced.
Cora recently posted…Life, Coffee and Fatalism
Hooray, I’m so glad you liked the post. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
Ha ha, it’s all true, and there are days when my cats are more difficult than my two kids, so there you go! The nice thing about cats, though, is I can lock them in the basement when they’re out of control… not so much my cats. For some reason it’s highly frowned upon. Pfft.
Heather recently posted…The Leavings
Yes, I love to toss Oscar outside when he’s really being a deviant. No dice with the little ones though….unless….no never mind. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
This is priceless and oh so true!!!!!
Thanks Laura. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
My cat is staring at me right now and is probably planning to poop on my yoga mat if I don’t feed him in 5 minutes. Seriously, we still keep up a baby gate up that he hasn’t just so he doesn’t walk on everyone’s head in the middle of the night. I agree it’s decent prep!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Honey Almond Fudge Cups {Paleo}
Your comment cracked me up. I can see your cat eyeballing you right now. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
My cat never made me hallucinate like the tiny ankle biter did in her early days BUT…. I haven’t closed the book on that one yet. There’s still time… 😉 Love you like crazy, you’v got this!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons recently posted…Homemade Bacon Avocado Sushi
Thanks Mama!
There are days where Oscar has definitely made me question my sanity. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
This is SO true. I always tell Jesse that being a pet owner is like a trial run at being a parent – minus the diapers 😛
Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Recent Things: Tomatoless Tomatoes, Kitchen Fails & New Addictions
Oh yes, I am not looking forward to those diapers.
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
Pretty sure my dog has IBS too. Maybe I passed it along to her. LOL! cats, dogs, whatever, they are like kids. Except they don’t talk back. Darn.
Love this, love you, and love oscar!
I think in Oscar’s case, his issues stem from his eating anything and everything he finds on the ground, including rubber bands. Those are a big favorite for him.
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
I am dying laughing. Dying. Cats can have IBS?! Kids still make macaroni art?! And the mention of the word “blowout”… bwhahahahahahaha!
But the icing… the icing was reminding me of the live chipmunk story. What cat brings a LIVE chipmunk inside?! While we’re out it… who the fuck decided to name then chipmunks? What a weird word…
Anyway, good luck with all that. Call me and we’ll drink. Because birds and dogs drive to to AA… or away fro AA and around the corner to the bar.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chicken Curry [Recipe]
Blowouts is the term parents use for the really bad diapers….. God help me. Expect many phone calls from me. I’m expecting you and Lucie to restore my sanity weekly.
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
Oh, I know… ask my mom about the time I did that to my dad.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chicken Curry [Recipe]
😆 And here I was thinking cats were no-fuss kind of creatures. I used to really be a dog person, but the older I get, the more I seem to like cats because I THOUGHT they basically took care of themselves. Clearly I’m delusional 😆 I’d love to have one, though… allergies be damned. And as much work as they are, at least pets can’t talk back. Or take your car for a joyride. Or charge things to your credit cards. Or become truants. Or… 😯
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…the ultimate banana oat greek yogurt muffin
Oscar is a special kind of cat. He’s kept me more on my toes than any other pet I’ve had. Also, he talks back. That being said, he can’t steal the car and I wouldn’t trade him for anything.
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
OMG I love this post so much. MAXXXX!!! I miss seeing his face, so glad to reminisce with him. I still don’t want kids, but I can kinda sorta see your point. 😉
Brittany recently posted…Trusting the Process
I miss Max too. It was nice to go through all photos and see my boy. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
LOL! Your cats are hysterical. I find pets in general so funny. I’m definitely one of those people who spends too much time watching all those videos of dogs and cats doing silly things.
Also I actually stared at that picture of your black and white patterned wall for a solid 2 minutes trying to find your cat haha.
Chelsea A recently posted…Tempeh Quinoa Power Bowl
The picture of Oscar blending into the wall paper is one of my favorites. #NinjaCat
Meghan recently posted…How Cats Have Prepared Me for Parenthood
Meghan,
I’d say from my wise old experienced state that you’re as ready as you can be.
And you’ll rock this, most of the time, and roll with what you can’t rock at that particular moment because . . . well what else can you do?
I will say that neither my kids nor my dogs have spent much time on kitchen counters, though Robert Barker has tried his darnedest. And no baby will blend into the wallpaper/glass shelves like Oscar. He’s a ninja.
I always thought it was funny that I could be sitting and feeding my son and my dog Jake (standard black Lab mix type mutt) could completely ignore the baby at my breast and demand attention from me as if there wasn’t a human between us. I’d expect cats to do the same.
You’re doing awesome!
Kirsten recently posted…Corned Beef Hash Waffles
Maybe the baby will blend into the newly shined up hardwood floors? Then again, if she has my complexion, she’ll stand out unless she’s in front of a snow bank wearing all white. What are the odds? Slim to none is my bet.
I suspect I will have a baby eating from one boob while Oscar sleeps on the other. It’ll be a whole new level of bonding.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: The Remodeling Continues and Eats (#20)
Hahaha this post is so great. The text conversation about the chipmunk followed up by the photo with the critter had me laughing out loud!
Sara @ Oats & Rows recently posted…Week in Review: It’s the Little Things
Pets sure do make life interesting. I’d say I’ve had about four or five live rodents in my house before, thanks to my felines.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: The Remodeling Continues and Eats (#20)
This is the best thing I’ve read all weekend. The photo of the tiny black and white cat face hidden in the black and white background is the best!! I miss having cats. I’m a dog mama now and they are so damn needy, much more than my old cats were. Well just in different ways. They are however etched into the crooks of my heart and drive me nuts with the cuteness. I imagine the dogs have been prepping me for motherhood ever since that first time I had to manually clean out Muffins butthole due to her fur being too long and having a case of the runs. They’ve taught me to love on another level that’s nice. Waking up covered in warm furry bodies is addictive and I am looking forward to doing morning cuddles with a little human in the mix.
Danielle recently posted…Week in Review: Snot Bubbles & High Tea
Oh, I’m so glad you got such a kick out of this post. It was a fun one, although totally honesty, I had trouble writing it. I blame the pregnancy funk.
Pretty soon you and I will be covered in little furry bodies, animal and human. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: The Remodeling Continues and Eats (#20)
Hahahaha! This sure made me giggle… Until I realised I don’t think I’m ready for babies or cats :-S
Love seeing all the pictures of your little beauties though – that always makes me smile!
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Friday Favourites! Feb 26
Hooray, I’m so glad this post made you laugh. Intention met!!
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: The Remodeling Continues and Eats (#20)
I can’t even believe that Oscar brought that chipmunk into the house! That’s amazing! He’s an exceptional cat and I love that photo of him on his back with his pink paws in the air. *swoon* Changing poopy diapers is way better than wiping cat poo off the long stringy cat butt fur. Promise.
Suzy recently posted…Mileage Monday
The photo of Oscar stretching with his paws out and his back ones curled up is one of my favorites. It looks like he’s reaching for a hug.
Meghan recently posted…Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Haha this made me laugh! My cat is like a baby too – waking me up at all hours of the night, demanding food. Luckily, Arthur is a house cat so he cannot get his paws on live animals! He did leave a very large dead bug in on my pillow once though. Don’t know how it got into the house but glad Arthur was there to catch it for me!
I can’t believe he left the dead bug on your pillow though. I would be scarred. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Oscar sounds like my parents previous cat. It would bring just about everything into the house. I don’t have children or pets (I did but not now) but this is interesting.
Hollie recently posted…Six Things to Remember During a Race
Glad you liked it.
Meghan recently posted…Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Cats are nuts, I don’t know if I could handle one (or two, or three). Will be sharing with my cat-loving friends 🙂
Melissa @ Mango About Town recently posted…February Half Marathon Training
Thanks. I hope they get a kick out of it.
I cannot agree more with you! Having a kitten really prepares you for what is coming next in your life. And thanks for the funny pics, I just showed my sister your post and she took away my laptop for a whole five minutes to read and laugh! 😛
Emma recently posted…Natural Ways to Shorten Your Period
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. It was a fun one to write.