Fur Baby Distractions + Respect

I've now been a dog mom for about a month.  I am sleeping less, worrying about another little furry being all of the time and have an increased number of responsibilities on a daily basis.  I also have discovered an ever higher level of respect for working parents, especially during this pandemic.  I wrote a post previously about my nannying a pod of children and the research surrounding working parents during this time, but I was only peripherally aware of the energy drain that it truly takes.

Now, I recognize that a dog is not a child, but my puppy is still a living and breathing thing that depends on me for almost everything.  Many have said to me that having a puppy is good practice for what it is like to have a child and I can confirm now that I am not ready for kids.  Maybe sometime in the next 5 years, but not in the immediate future.  Having this puppy has been a real challenge.  I know that the benefits will far outweigh the costs in the long run, but these early months with a puppy are where all of the training and discipline have to happen to ensure that the dog grows up to be a law-abiding citizen of the world, aka a good dog that I could leave with friends without worrying that he'd destroy their homes and be a menace.

During these precious months where my fur baby is tiny & adorable & fluffy, he is also teething an incredible amount and being potty trained.  Unlike a human baby, puppies have razor shark teeth and want to chew anything and everything to help soothe their aching mouths.  They don't understand that the ache is their adult teeth trying to push their baby teeth out, they are just sharks ready to attack.  I have scrapes and bite marks all over my hands and forearms and he has even drawn blood a few times.  But, I can't loose my temper with him because he is a derpy, stupid puppy who has no idea what's going on.  That in itself if hard because these bites can really hurt.

My schedule now revolves around this animal.  Wake up is at 7am and bedtime is at 11pm.  Luckily, he is sleeping through the night.  Every two hours during the day, there's a potty break to go outside.  I've also had to build in naps in his crate (where he is currently) because I can't get anything done if I don't.  While raising this pup, I am also searching for my next full time job.  Those of you that are currently job searching know that the search in itself is a full-time job.  With that, I am also still maintaining my two internships with the Josh Bersin Academy and the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts.  Do I feel a bit overwhelmed?  Why yes, yes I do.

Much of the advice that I've seen circulating for working parents during this pandemic seems to be appropriate advice for new pet owners too.  Things like engaging your child in constructive activities, enforcing time outs and catching them being good come to mind.  Puppies, like kids, need play time that is structured.  They also need to know what their boundaries are and what the consequences are when they cross those.  My favorite is probably catching them being good because I think that a lack of praise for 'being good' is a common thread that can be seen many places in life, even after childhood.  Employees, for instance, often only hear what can be done better, but may not get a pat on the back for other things that they have done well on.

A recent survey by Pew Research Center found that about half of employer parents with a child under 12 say it has been difficult to handle child care responsibilities during the pandemic.  This number is up from 38% in March 2020.  Parents that are working remotely are much less likely to get their work done without interruptions.  Interestingly, more than 83% of U.S adults think 'it is fair that some companies have given working parents additional time-off to deal with disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak because parents are dealing with demands at home that other workers don't have'.  Another 16% think that this is unfair because those without children might end up having to do more work.  I would personally like to see pet parents more seriously considered in this equation.

Another thing I've been reading about lately, in relation to employees in general, is the idea of taking vacation.  Many individuals haven't taken much time, if any, off during this pandemic.  And now, as things are opening back up and travel is becoming more accessible, it is important that employees take time off.  This doesn't mean just do a staycation and take the day off of work, although this is a good thing to do every once in a while too.  It is being suggested by organizations like the Harvard Business Review that employees take a full week or vacation or more.

Why a full week?  Well, for most people, it actually take a few days to stop thinking about work and other stressors in one's life.  With a week long vacation, that still leaves a few days where that individual can really relax.  HBR suggests that you plan this type of a vacation at least 3 months in advance, as this makes it more likely that you will actually take time off.  For those that worry about their workload, and aren't the best at delegating, planning a trip this far in advance will allow for plenty of time to get co-workers prepared to cover for them.

If you worry about the money involved in vacations, one option is to go somewhere within driving distance where you have friends or family that you can stay with.  Doing a long weekend like this can offer many of the benefits of a vacation, without the added financial burden of lodging and airfare.  I, for instance, am taking a long weekend over Memorial Day to go see family in NJ.  Having a few extra hands to help with the puppy will be nice and it will be good to just get away for a bit.  Plus, I hope to be able to take the pup on his first beach adventure on the Jersey Shore.  

If you don't have a trip planned this summer, start thinking about it NOW!

-Vicky


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