We have a dog at home. His name is Kramer. He’s a mongrel dog with a bit of Labrador blood, but a beautiful mongrel, nonetheless. He’s big, he’s got silky brown fur, and he does not have that “doggy smell” inherent in man’s best friend. Thank God for his good genes. Hmm.. wait. Not having that distinct doggy smell is not bad, is it?
So there, we have a dog. But I do not think we deserve one.
First off, we hardly take him out for a walk. Wait! Who am I kidding? Make that never. It’s been eons since we took him out for exercise. His massive body and endless energy takes up all our strength to keep him restrained. His mere presence on the street agitates the other male dogs in the neighborhood.
Feeding him is left to the house help. (So that’s why he’s more excited when it’s the house help approaching him instead of us.)
We hardly play with him. We hardly spend time to bond with him.
His baths are given when the house help is told. Again, it’s the house help, when we suddenly remember. Maybe since he does not smell, we forget that important ritual. (I know. Duh! How can one forget a pet’s bath, right?)
We shush him when he howls and restlessly moves around his spot under the mango tree without even checking up on him. There could already be a burglar for all we know, but we never care to check, because he barks at every passer-by.
Yes, I admit. We do not deserve to have Kramer.
So does this mean we don’t deserve to be parents yet?
I remember what my grandfather used to tell me. Caring for a kid is like caring for a pet. If you can’t take care of a dog or any pet that’s been entrusted to you, how can you take care of a kid? You can’t just get rid of it when you get tired. And it’s not right to ignore it when you’re not in the mood.
His words never fail to reach home.
Now when I hear of friends who are on the family way, I would always wonder when my turn would come.
But then, I would also be reminded of Gramp’s words. Of Kramer.
I now realize that to know if we are ready for parenthood, we first need to go back.
To Kramer.
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