Wednesday, February 05, 2003
Parker is obsessed, desperately obsessed, with animals. I do not say this lightly. If we are out and about, on a walk, at a park, in a public area in general and Parker sees an animal, that is THE ONLY thing on his mind.
Yesterday at the end of playgroup we went to a nearby playground/dog park. We walked past a house that had two dogs that ferociously barked and scared me to death. I honestly felt that if those dogs could dig under that fence any faster, we'd have been appetizer and main course. Then we get to the park, and play for a while on the playground area. Then two dogs arrive at the park. It is a huge park, but Parker spots them readily. And runs, yes runs, for them. What is a Mama to do? This happens not once, not twice, not even three times. We are talking CONSTANT. I finally get him distracted enough for the dogs and owners to make an escape (and he never got near the dogs either and screamed heartily about that) when he spots sandhill cranes flying overhead. He is entralled and points and says, "Buh, buh, buh". He then runs into a field that has a few birds in it in the far distance. I got my exercise that day!
Then today, we went to library preschooler storytime and at the library was a cat. He did everything in his power to get to that cat and I finally gave in when I observed how friendly the cat was. So I'm stooped down with Parker in front of me. The cats rubs on me and Parker sits down next to it when it lays down. He goes to put his head on the kitty's belly and I stop him thinking, "Our cats at home aren't particularly fond of this move at times, and they like Parker" and he screams. And cries. So we leave and go to lunch to wish our mommy-friend, Denise, a happy 36th birthday. Afterwards we go to another park and Parker while there sees birds flying overhead, points and calls out repeatedly and insistently, "Buhd, buh, buh, buhd". If that wasn't enough, two more moms come with toddlers slightly older than our bunch and ..... a puppy!! Intrigued beyond belief and finally gets to sit down and the puppy crawls in his lap!! Parker is in heaven and a little unsure of the whole situation of a teething puppy gnawing on his hand. I hope it satisfied his obsession at least a little bit.
Because we are NOT getting a dog.
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