I want to spend Christmas with my DOODLES!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Would it be crazy if I opted not to go home to the Toronto area for Christmas and instead spent Chrismtas at home in Ottawa where there will be no (human) family members and only a few friends in town, simply because I do not want to leave my doodles behind?

 

I knew that when I decided to become a dog owner that it would be tough to figure out arrangements for when I went out of town to visit family or friends. But I didn't want to let that stop me. I figured, I'll just find a good kennel, no problem! Well, little did I know just how emotionally bonded I would become to my little monkey doodlebug and what do you know? next thing I do is go out and get another one.

 

So here I am, two doodles and kitty cat that I can't stand to be away from, and not a family member in sight who wants anything to do with them over the holidays. Well, that's not entirely true... at first my brother said yes, it will be fine, we'll just have to keep them in the back yard. He didn't see me giving him the finger because we were texting at the time. Then he said we could try keeping them in the basement but Marisa, his wife, would have to agree. I told him I'd make a special visit in November with Winston so they can meet him and see how wonderful he is. Weeks went by and I heard nothing. I reached out again and told him that my kennel of choice (a cage free boarding place in the country) was booking up and I didn't have much time to decide. Finally, last night I get an email from my sister in law saying that she's too worried about her anxious cat and how he would react to the dogs so she'd rather I didn't bring them.

 

My dad's place is out of the question as he has allergies to dogs and he is a big slob and I hate staying there, and don't want to suddenly find my dogs eating something off the floor or Winston going nuts on his itch paws because his house is so dusty and moldy. Not to mention my own allergies. I can only tolerate one night at my dad's place, and don't think it'll work with the doodles.

 

I have an aunt who might take in Winston while I stay at my brothers (they live quite close to each other so I'll still be able to see Winston), but she doesn't want Sophie because she's too hyper.

 

Here's the thing, December 25 is Sophie's first birthday, and call me crazy but celebrating her first birthday is 100 times more important to me than celebrating a certain someone who was supposedly born on that day but history and science tells us is not actually the case (I'm very sorry to offend anyone but my beliefs have changed over the years and while I believe in the importance of celebrating Christmas for all the positive values that it promotes, I am simply not the good Catholic I was raised to be).

 

I'm afraid if I leave Winston with someone else he will panic. Once we went out for a walk with a friend and I asked her to hold him while I ran back inside to grab something. He freaked out and wouldn't budge an inch or take his eyes of the front door. I am so worried he will think he's been abandoned again. I would hate for him to feel that way, especially on Christmas. I cannot fathom leaving Sophie in a kennel on her first birthday.

 

And, if I go without my doodles I will be utterly miserable, depressed, resentful of my family, and worried sick about my babies.

 

So, I want to stay home and spend Christmas with my doodles. They are my family and I don't want to be without them on the biggest family holiday of the year, i.e. Sophie's birthday Christmas.

 

What do you guys think?

 

 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

and just an fyi, I'm hosting a dinner party tonight so won't be checking back on here utnil the morning. I'm looking forward to some wise advice from my doodle loving friends.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not only do I think you are as far from crazy as it's possible to be, but if you have a way to bring all of your babies to my house, you are welcome to celebrate both Christmas and Sophie's birthday here with JD and me.

I spend Christmas alone most years. My kids and grandson go to their dad's family for Christmas, (it's not really my holiday)and I have no family left in the area. I could go visit out-of-town relatives myself, but I don't do long-distance driving, and I wouldn't leave JD. Usually a friend invites us both over for dinner, otherwise it's just JD & me. And we are perfectly happy!

 

 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Awe, thanks Karen! i would love to spend christmaswith you and JD however, I'm not too up to speed on US geogrpahy but something thells me Illinois is a very long drive from here...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Dinner party, you are ambitious. Maybe you could take the dogs and stay at a pet friendly hotel? Still you'd have to have the dogs with you most of the time since I don't think you could just leave them in a hotel. Sophie will not know when her birthday or Christmas is and you can just celebrate on a different day if you want to. Pay for a cleaning service for your Dad, send him to your Aunt's and use his house while you're in Ontario, staying only a few days. I don't have better ideas at the moment. It is hard and sometimes I refuse plans due to doodle concerns.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

The dinner party was awesome. Chinese Fondue - with two or three fondue pots. It makes for a great party because everyone is milling around and talking about the food so there is no opportunity for awkwardness.

 

I thought about tryin the hotel idea. I think I'll look into that as an option.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The Chinese Fondue sounds great. I never heard of it but really a lot of Chinese food should be fondueable : )

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sherri, We used to drive home every Christmas twelve hours away and load up kids and packages, etc. It was too long of a drive and we all wanted to be home anyways. My DH, two DD's and I have always spent Christmas with just us, no family until recently (my mom now comes and our oldest is married) and we went to the movies every year and out to Christmas dinner. People would always say, "don't you miss being with lots of people?" Nope!! The thought of boarding Fudge and Vern would bother me too much to enjoy Christmas. Guess what...you are all grown up and can celebrate the holidays however you want and if that is with your pets, I say go for it. Meanwhile, my DD is boarding her pets to come home because it is too far to drive and she is fine with it for now, but I suspect that will change someday and I will have to accept that. Rent a movie and have a great Holiday!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We are never with many people during the holidays either-usually just immediate family and even with DH's family, its just his nuclear family.

 

I think I might be slightly depressed with just my dogs, but on the other hand, I have never spent a holiday without my dogs.  If I am expected to travel to the inlaws, I don't go unless Peri and Tacky come. PERIOD.  So I don't think you are crazy! 

 

This year we are taking them down to the inlaws (beach) after xmas and that time will be spent with quiet walks on the beach with the dogs...sometimes ALONE :)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thank you Laurie! I think I should be able to make my own choices because i am all grown up but unfortunately I have to deal with a lot of complaining. I think my dad would be pretty disappointed if i didn't come, as well as some of my extended family. Plus it's hard because everyone assumes you are lonely and sad if you spend Christmas alone don't understand that I am so happy and content on my own. I feel like it's almost worth it to suck it up and go simply to avoid having to explain and justify my decision to everyone...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

BTW, Fudge turns three on Christmas!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Happy BD Fudge in case I miss a blog : )

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

How did you know there would be one? LOL