a birthday wish come true
Before I share the surprise Luke got for his birthday, let me share this background--
Luke has been wanting a dog for a year or two, but has REALLY been wanting a dog ever since our visit from my brother's dog about six months ago while Brian was traveling. Luke fell in love with Kai and was so sad when it was time for him to return to Evansville. Since then, Luke has been bringing up the possibility of our family getting a dog of our own on an almost daily basis. Not kidding.
A few weeks ago, Luke gave me his birthday wish list for this year:
1. dog
2. dog
3. dog
4. dog
5. a puppy
6. a dog
7. hmmm… how about a dog?
8. dog
We wanted to be the kinds of parents that could just agree to a dog, but realistically we were pretty sure that a dog was more than we could/should take on right now. Let's face it, some days we are doing remarkably well just to keep four children alive! We would be crazy to add another family member to the mix, right?
For months, they kept asking. The more the kids brought up the wonderful things about having a dog, the more I focused on the many, many reasons we should NOT get a dog. I kept bringing up what a responsibility and time commitment a dog would be. I reminded everyone that we like to go on adventures and that with a dog at home, you can't just pick up and leave. I brought up the many costs associated with dogs. I reminded everyone that Grace has allergies to dogs. I worried about the small size of our yard. I worried about who would walk the dog at night after the kids are in bed when Ben is traveling (me.) I worried that because I am just not really a dog person, I wouldn't know how to be a dog owner. I worried about dog hair everywhere; I have enough cleaning to do without dog hair! I worried about expensive vet visits.
All the while that I was being practical (and maybe overly pessimistic) about getting a dog, Luke and Gracie and Drew just kept talking so sweetly about how much they would love to have a dog. I would catch them researching dog breeds online. Luke made a list of breeds that would work or us and why. Luke and Gracie made a list of all of the supplies we would need for a dog and researched their cost on Amazon. Luke talked repeatedly about how much he enjoyed walking Kai and how much he would love to have a dog of his own to walk. They read a book on puppy training.
Finally- and I am not sure exactly when- they wore me down. I started to think that maybe getting a dog would not be the hardest thing in the world. I pictured how very happy the kids (especially Luke) would be if we agreed and made his wish came true.
After lots and lots (and lots and lots) of research and discussion, Ben and I decided that for his birthday this year, we would tell Luke that we had finally decided that our family could get a dog. I wrapped up a couple of dog necessities in a big box and let him open the box tonight before bedtime. I loved his reaction!
(This is where I have tried multiple times to upload the video we have, but blogger does not like phone videos. )
Luke has been wanting a dog for a year or two, but has REALLY been wanting a dog ever since our visit from my brother's dog about six months ago while Brian was traveling. Luke fell in love with Kai and was so sad when it was time for him to return to Evansville. Since then, Luke has been bringing up the possibility of our family getting a dog of our own on an almost daily basis. Not kidding.
A few weeks ago, Luke gave me his birthday wish list for this year:
1. dog
2. dog
3. dog
4. dog
5. a puppy
6. a dog
7. hmmm… how about a dog?
8. dog
We wanted to be the kinds of parents that could just agree to a dog, but realistically we were pretty sure that a dog was more than we could/should take on right now. Let's face it, some days we are doing remarkably well just to keep four children alive! We would be crazy to add another family member to the mix, right?
For months, they kept asking. The more the kids brought up the wonderful things about having a dog, the more I focused on the many, many reasons we should NOT get a dog. I kept bringing up what a responsibility and time commitment a dog would be. I reminded everyone that we like to go on adventures and that with a dog at home, you can't just pick up and leave. I brought up the many costs associated with dogs. I reminded everyone that Grace has allergies to dogs. I worried about the small size of our yard. I worried about who would walk the dog at night after the kids are in bed when Ben is traveling (me.) I worried that because I am just not really a dog person, I wouldn't know how to be a dog owner. I worried about dog hair everywhere; I have enough cleaning to do without dog hair! I worried about expensive vet visits.
All the while that I was being practical (and maybe overly pessimistic) about getting a dog, Luke and Gracie and Drew just kept talking so sweetly about how much they would love to have a dog. I would catch them researching dog breeds online. Luke made a list of breeds that would work or us and why. Luke and Gracie made a list of all of the supplies we would need for a dog and researched their cost on Amazon. Luke talked repeatedly about how much he enjoyed walking Kai and how much he would love to have a dog of his own to walk. They read a book on puppy training.
Finally- and I am not sure exactly when- they wore me down. I started to think that maybe getting a dog would not be the hardest thing in the world. I pictured how very happy the kids (especially Luke) would be if we agreed and made his wish came true.
After lots and lots (and lots and lots) of research and discussion, Ben and I decided that for his birthday this year, we would tell Luke that we had finally decided that our family could get a dog. I wrapped up a couple of dog necessities in a big box and let him open the box tonight before bedtime. I loved his reaction!
(This is where I have tried multiple times to upload the video we have, but blogger does not like phone videos. )
In the hour since we told him, Luke has hugged me many times. I caught him and Gracie just giggling in excitement. He keeps saying, "I just can't believe it!" Such a memorable birthday night it was! He was so genuinely surprised that I don't think he will soon forget this present.
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