At the Zoo and With a Shih Tzu

I am fond of birds and fish in aquariums but I was never fond of furry animals, not even stuffed animal toys. Maybe because as a child my mother prevented me from holding cats and dogs for fear of inhaling their furs and causing an allergic reaction.

Now where is that teaching that pets will make a child more compassionate? Has my mother heard of it? Of course but she is just a little over protective (until now with her grandchildren) but that's alright. There are other factors which greatly shape a child's attitude, feelings and behavior - parents living and leading by example for one. So no worries, we grew up well and compassionate enough. :)

But then on the contrary, my daughter loves animals, stuffed and real - cats, dogs and rabbits. We bought her a rabbit when she was about five years old. She spent a lot of time in my in laws when she was a toddler. My husband and his family care for a number of cats and dogs in their household. My daughter acquired her fondness for animals from them.


She loves this shih tzu named Star, her cousin's pet. She played with her all the time during the holidays last year. We were supposed to buy our daughter her own puppy last summer but suddenly she developed an allergy which prevented her from touching and going near cats or dogs, no perfumes or colognes either. I know she misses playing with this dog and feeding cats. Something's got to give. We have to follow her pediatrician's advise. When the allergy is all gone, we can proceed buying her prized dog.



The pictures above were taken at Island Cove's Animal Island during their school's field trip two years ago. Either my husband or I join her in her field trip, on a convoy, since nursery. These pictures are special because this was the last year that parents were allowed to accompany children in their recreation trips, not even on convoy. My daughter longed to go to her field trips without any of us, her parents, tagging along. Her wish came true last year when we allowed her to go by herself. Just imagine how many times I called just to check where they were and what they were doing. This mommy should learn to give her daughter the independence she needs. It's all for the best in the long run.

***More sharing of mommy moments at Mommy Journey.