Kids say "Let's not talk about the dogs!"

[Ginny Nightingale]

I had an interesting conversation with my older daughter the other day--I tried to put on my best "thick skin" but it still hurt, I'm afraid. I wonder if any of you have had this same experience!

My daughters, who are 29 and 27 visit every few months--we do not see them often as they both live a distance away.They both have a CAT. Since all three of our kids are out of the house now, the dogs (we have three doodles) have filled a void for us. We are both retired and have quiet lives in the country, to the dogs are the main entertainment. As many of you know, one of the doodles had puppies this winter and that kept us very occupied. 

Anyway, my daughter told me that they would prefer it if we didn't talk about the dogs so much when they visit--she said we are either all sitting with the dogs and watching them or talking about them--and it just isn't interesting to her at all. OUCH! Could it be that she is a bit jealous? Naaa--but i did tell her that once I have GRANDchildren, this problem will be solved. In the meantime, I am going to have to come up with new topics--hmmm--I raked leaves today--maybe they want to talk about that--or my garden perhaps?? LOL! I am afraid I don't have much of a life beyond the doods! The highlight of many of our days is a trip to the dogpark! 

My first thought when she said this was how much I appreciate the DK website--where so many others share my obsession. Right now, I have FOUR doodles at my feet sleeping or playing (Momma Lyric is playing with her pup, Rio). The fourth doodle is Nola, another momma who has had her two puppies here--they are both sleeping upstairs--so, that's 6 doodles altogether--I have also started grooming them for other people--yikes! I am obsessed with doodles! YUP!I 

I understand my daughter's frustration--now that she is about to graduate from vet school, she has bigger things to talk about. I hope I can keep up with her. On the other hand, my other daughter, whose life is no less full than her sister's is, talks about her cat, Sprocket, incessantly. I have to admit that it is boring and I guess that is the way she feels about my doodles too. It is even tougher for her to visit because she doesn't even like dogs!

Then there is my son--he LOVES the dogs and rolls on the floor with them while they gleefully lick his face! So, that is the bright spot in all of this.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am guilty of thinking that everyone shares my obsession. My feels on this - too bad! Between my 2 girls, my GrandDoodle, Mickey and working with the DRC my life is truly full of doodles. Maybe that's why my friends are doodle lovers too!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Ginny, I think it would be very hard to have Cat people for daughters when you are an obvious dog lover. I have two daughters who kid me all the time about my DK hobby and my doodles, but luckily they are dog people, although the one only has French Bulldogs. Your dogs are important to you and a very BIG part of your life, so I think it is a bit unfair to ask you to stop talking about something you care so deeply about. I mean, as parents, didn't we spend years listening about things that we didn't always find spell binding...LOL. I think mothers and daughters will always disagree about something, so I would not worry too much about it and just keep being yourself.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Oh boy, you have really hit a hot spot in my home also.  My only son is in grad school in Richmond, VA and we see him a couple of times a year.  He thinks I also have nothing to talk about except my dogs, but they are the most interesting part of my life right now too.  I could talk about crafts at grandma's retirement home, my weaving class, or substitute teaching, but he doesn't find those topics too interesting either.  However, the last time he visited he brought his girlfriend and she LOVED my puppy.  She was playing with him all the time and even dancing with him.  I have also told my son that I would love to have some grandchildren to talk about incessantly, but that isn't in his picture right now either.  So, enjoy your dogs and don't stop talking about them, doing for them, taking them everywhere you go.  Good to see that at least your son also enjoys the pups.  I'm a little surprised that your daughter who is graduating from vet school doesn't seem more interested.  Maybe she is just too saturated at this time.  Guess it wouldn't be too interesting to talk about pregnancy with a medical student in gynocology/obstretics either.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think children like us to be obsessed, quietly mind you, with them. At any rate it's hard not to talk about dogs when you have six in the house. But talk about them to those who sympathize and online : ) Children often say things that hurt but you always have to move on.

[Jennifer and Jack]

 

Any time you want to talk about your babies, I am game

[Carol Brand]

Dogs are my obsession.  I have to be VERY careful how much I talk about them with lay people.  I think this is true with anyone's hobby though.  I once got stuck listening to a distance runner talk for 30 minutes about his various trail running races.  Dear God.  I have never been so bored in my entire life.

 

Do you and your daughters play cards?  Maybe you all should take up bridge.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I love you DK!! I am work right now and so what if I enter my dogs in contests by dressing them up? So what if they have a web page?? I am right there with you on this-my family thinks we're crazy! I don't have kids and everyone else does so these are my kids. I do not know what I would talk about ine day without them in my life even to DH who lives the same way! I think that she should condiser that maybe that could hurt your feelings? I love them to death and if I had kids of my own then they would still be additional family and they would still be talked about everyday! I like your response about the grandchildren though!! You are not alone!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Wow! Great replies! I should mention that my vet daughter specializes in LARGE animals, like dairy cows for instance--and has a horse and two sheep in addition to her cat. She is thinking about getting a dog--that should be interesting!
She does get very interested if there is a health issue and is Sooo helpful when a medical emergency comes up--Nola had to have a C-section and she was a wonderful person to have on the other end of the phone when it took a while to get Nola to pay attention to the pups. So, I have to give her credit for that! If she comes here and we are all searching for something to talk about that isn't canine--I bet she will bring up the dogs just to keep the conversation going! LOL!
The comments about the boring conversations reminded me of all the times my son has given be a thorough explanation of how to win one of his video games--OY! That can put me to sleep in two minutes. But my girls are very independent and I have to drag information out of them. I will keep the playing cards handy--or Monopoly! I used to love playing games with them when they were kids and I wish we were the kind of family that kept playing games--I do have a Wii--tennis, anyone?

[Shelby and Kev]

Ginny,  I think your conversations about the Doodles are completely appropriate.  Not all others feel the way we do about or beloved animals.  I have lots to do, young family, and I am totally about Shelby.  Personally I would rather be around the animals than most people!   Loyalty and Dog Humor are just the best think along with laughter. 

 

We are difinitely on your Doodley side...Thats what we are here for...

[Heather and Rocky]

I try not to talk about Rocky too much to my friends.... they don't get it at all!  I've enjoyed being on DK too because I can gush all I want - lol.

 

My mother on the other hand has a Yorkie - and ummm - do I enjoy hearing about it all the time??   Ummm.... oh wait these forums are public huh??  LOL!

 

Heather

[Camilla and Darwin]

I'm guilty of rambling on about Darwin, or even just dogs in general. I think maybe my family and friends can get kind of bored. :-) Then again, I patiently listen while my 17 year old sister rambles about boys, my 8 year old brother gushes about Pokemon, or my friends detailing every episode of "Lost" ( a show I've never watched). I think that is what being friends/family is all about. Accepting and supporting each other's interests and passions. And if your daughters do get irritated with your dog talk, you can always come here. We are all equally obsessed!

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm really sorry, Ginny. My son and his family do not want to hear about  dogs either. It feels like I'm walking on eggshells trying to figure out what interesting conversations I can engage in. I think being authentic to who we are and what we enjoy is the best we can do. Trying to fake it just isn't going to create healthy relationships. Hoping they grow out of this attitude. :o). BTW I love, love, love your blogs about the puppies! Hooray for your son. Cute photo.