Babysitting

We don't own a dog. Not because my children don't want one (or continually beg for one)..... but because mom and dad just aren't willing to make the commitment. I don't want to scoop poop out of our yard. Or off of the carpet. Ick. Once in a great while, I feel the slightest tinge of "We should have a puppy" but it is quickly replaced by "Are you crazy, woman?!" when I hear other people complain about their puppies and how it's just like having a toddler. I already have one, thanks, and she keeps me on my toes plenty.

Rudy (half pictured above) is my sister's dog. She asked us to babysit him while they went out of town. Since she made my vacation recently possible by watching all 4 of my kids, I figured I owed her one. We've actually taken care of Rudy before so I wasn't entirely clueless about what it would entail. (Entail! I'm killing myself.) He happens to be a dream dog. Truly. He doesn't bark, doesn't lick, doesn't jump, hardly sheds and loves to just hang out wherever we are. My kids adore him. This week was a great lesson in what it takes to have a dog .... they all took turns walking him around the block (and quite often fought over whose turn it was), they made sure he went out in the back to do his business and they'll all get a chance to pick up his business later. Good times.

Yesterday, as Paige and I took Rudy for a walk, I told her that we would be taking him back home today. She sadly said, "But I want to keep him. He's precious and so delightful." After I stopped chuckling at her choice of language (do all 5 year olds talk like that?), I told her I absolutely agreed with her. He's been great practice for my kids in dog-owning. Who knows? Maybe I'll have a moment of insanity and get a dog someday. If I do, please let it be as "delightful" as Rudy.