The Pure Joy of Watching Your Baby and Dogs Bond
Plus, how to help the victims of the devastating Maui wildfires
I’ve always been a dog person. Closely aligned with the thinking of my friend and writer Wes Siler, I religiously follow the equation N + 1 = the correct number of dogs. At peak dog last year, our family had two labs, one pug, one toy poodle, and a Great Pyrenees—plus my mother-in-law’s lab, who lives right down the road and spends many of her days on our front porch.
Squeaker and Bonnie
Before I had a baby, my dogs were my babies. On the days and weekends my stepdaughter was at her mom’s, our household’s entire schedule revolved around Squeaker, Bonnie, Teddy, Stella, and Bear: when to walk them, which treats to buy them, what weekend plans would bring them the most adventure and joy. But having my son, Beckett, flipped everything on its head, as I knew it would.
Stella and Squeaker meeting Beckett
One of my biggest fears throughout my pregnancy was how our dogs would adapt to the baby. Teddy, our 18-year-old toy poodle, who was the alpha of the pack, was my biggest worry. As he gained years, he also gained a mean streak, and even though he never attacked Beckett during those early months, the stress of what might happen when my son learned to crawl was never far from my mind. Teddy, who I’d had for well over a decade, wandered away to die on a camping trip before Beckett hit the half-year mark, and while I was devastated, a part of me was also relieved that the riskiest member of our little crew was no longer a threat to my kid.
I felt conflicted about this loss until my friend Maneesha sent me the most meaningful note. She wrote: “…I’m so sorry, sending you so much love, but also this is one of the most incredible and heartwarming stories I have ever heard about a pup’s departure. What a good boy to usher you into the most beautiful phase of your life now. A job well done…”
A very good boy indeed.
Teddy <3
A year later, the rest of the dogs have completely accepted my now-toddler into their pack; he can now crawl, walk, and even run. Beckett’s first animal noise was for “dog” (though he pants instead of barks). He helps me feed them every morning. He throws the ball for Squeaker regularly, and Bear lets him climb all over her without flinching. Stella eagerly awaits food scraps beneath Beckett’s highchair, and Bonnie snuggles in close for pets at any chance she gets.
Beckett and Bear
They’re all angels to put up with the occasional tail pulling and not to snap when he swims in their water dish. In return, my son gets to learn about how to care for animals and just how important dogs can be to a family. Watching my first babies bond with my new baby has been one of the best parts of parenthood. And whenever Beckett bosses the dogs around, I like to think that it might be Teddy showing him how from the other side.
Beckett hugging Squeaker
What I’m reading
A Tiny Cabin, a Little Island and a Big Change: ‘Am I Crazy?’ A New Jersey woman now lives alone part of the year on a remote island in Maine that Stephen King called ‘a novel here, just waiting to be written.’
Ms. Fish said local reaction to Ms. Gale had been one of surprise. “A single woman bought the island? That little island? And she’s going to stay out there?” she said, paraphrasing the chatter.
But Ms. Gale had given massages to many of the townspeople, including Ms. Fish, and had otherwise proved herself intrepid among the locals. Her longest stay alone on the island has been four consecutive nights; she routinely stays overnight. And she was unfazed by the current storm as Mr. Fish motored slowly and expertly across the bay.
As the salt spray and rain hit Ms. Gale in her face and her blue rain coat, she put on a cheery smile and pointed out the colorful lobster buoys floating everywhere in the water, likening them to confetti. As the boat passed Hardwood Island, a larger privately-owned island covered with spruce trees, Ms. Gale said that she had been extended an invitation by its owner, along with owners of other islands in Maine, now that she belongs to an uncommon club.
Read the full story on The New York Times.
How to Help the Victims of the Devastating Maui Wildfires: The fires have killed at least 93 people, and survivors are returning to ruins.
State Governor Josh Green said in a press conference that the town of Lahaina has suffered near-total decimation. “Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down... without a doubt, it feels like a bomb was dropped on Lahaina.”
President Biden approved a national disaster declaration for Hawaii, unlocking federal resources to help in the massive response efforts to the ongoing wildfires. Many public figures have come forward to contribute to relief efforts, including Oprah, Jeff Bezos, and Jason Momoa. But the impact of the devastation is so massive, no amount of help is too small.
If you’re wondering how you can help Maui, agencies are standing by to turn your aloha into action. Here are ways to get involved.
Read the full story on Esquire.
Judge Sides with Young Activists in First-of-Its-Kind Climate Change Trial in Montana: The court found climate impact must be considered and kids have a right to a healthy environment.
Julia Olson, an attorney representing the youth, released a statement calling the ruling a "huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate."
"As fires rage in the West, fueled by fossil fuel pollution, today's ruling in Montana is a game-changer that marks a turning point in this generation's efforts to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos," said Olson, the executive director of Our Children's Trust, an Oregon environmental group that has filed similar lawsuits in every state since 2011.
What I Learned from Hiking with a Partner Who Strode Ahead and Wouldn’t Slow Down: Our treks offered lessons in relationship dynamics—from my parents’ marriage through to my children’s friendships.
Surrounded by snowy peaks, I spied his silhouette in the distance and then watched him disappear around a turn bordered by colorful prayer flags. In our 20s, we’d trekked for three months in Nepal, only stopping to sip hot chai and eat warm dal for meals. After serving in the Peace Corps in the Central African Republic, I’d anticipated a romantic journey as a couple with my best friend turned boyfriend. But as hiking partners, we were rarely together. I was a strong backpacker; he was stronger.
After I finally caught up with him, I’d start to feel deflated as the distance grew between us yet again.
While I loved his adventurous spirit, the disconnect in our pacing allowed ample time for contemplation: “Do I want to commit to someone who prefers to hike alone together?” I’d wonder. For years, I’d judged older men who walked far ahead of their partners on city crosswalks or outdoor trails, their torsos leaning forward as if pulled by some invisible force. Yet I rationalized that my boyfriend and I were giving each other freedom to “hike our own hike”.
Read the full story on The Guardian.
Last but not least
