Monday, December 10, 2012

Dwindling Free Time

I am trying to spend my evenings relaxing because my days as a care-free dog mom are coming to an end.  Soon I will also be in charge of a 13 year old boy and as far as I can tell, 13 year olds are more demanding than dogs.

I got my yorkie mix adopted yesterday.  She's the grey one in the middle.  Hopefully she will stay adopted.  I offered to dog-sit for the people because they wanted me to hold her until after the holidays.  I said, how about you take her now and I will dog-sit the week after Christmas.  They agreed so that's the plan.


I am also fostering the dog on the right because he got returned and his old foster home couldn't take him.  I've had a lot of interest in him so hopefully he will get adopted soon.  My chiweenie on the left does not get any attention at all because he is shy and doesn't approach people.  He's been in the rescue for over a year.  Usually small dogs get adopted fast but not him.

I'm trying not to take any new dogs until I find out how much free time I will have.  With boy scouts and school and who knows what else, I don't think I will have much time.  So far I am working on a schedule that will work.  I hope I can fit some fun things in the schedule too.  Raising a teenager should be fun right?  


11 comments:

Dave said...

Daizy, is your nephew interested in any way in helping you in taking care of your would-be-adopted dogs? Is there a potential for some kind of tradeoff involving his helping out with that?

Otherwise, I do not envy your having to take care of a 13-year-old boy.

Petunia 100 said...

My son, at age 17, has never given me a moment's trouble. :)

Enjoy this new stage of your life.

Lizzie @ her homeworld said...

My kids were not much trouble but its different or you to be starting this at 13. Consistency is important, and choose your battles. Some things are not worth the fight and would be nice for him to get his way.
In five years when it is all over you will be amazed how quickly this time went.
Lizzie

Anonymous said...

Daizy, you are a blessing to your nephew, in the now and for his future.

But if he doesn't *realize* it now, he certainly *will* in the future.

You will be in my prayers.

-Lee

Daizy said...

Dave, my nephew does like the dogs although he likes to remind me that cats are better. He offered to walk the dogs in exchange for minutes on the wii which I haven't bought yet but it is good that he is starting to think about doing chores for game time. I am sure I can think of many more things for him to do if he wants more game time.

Daizy said...

Petunia, I sure hope I can have some fun with him. People love to share their teenage horror stories with me but hopefully it won't be that bad. I am optimistic.

Daizy said...

absolutely Lizzie. And I am trying to make sure he has realistic expectations of this new arrangement. I don't want him thinking there will be no rules at all once the parents are gone!

Daizy said...

Thanks Lee. I do hope that I can be a good influence and that we can maintain a good relationship when he is grown. I hope I find the right balance between protecting him and showing what life is about.

Petunia 100 said...

Daizy, may I ask how your parents came to be your nephew's guardian?

Daizy said...

Petunia, my brother-in-law died of cancer in his early 20's. My sister died of a brain aneurysm not long after. They left the 2 boys to my parents. We were hoping they would be able to raise them but my dad's dementia made that impossible. My other nephew stayed up in Washington with my other sister.

Petunia 100 said...

Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. :(