Growing Up

At what age do children (or puppies) go from being the entire focus of our lives to just another member of our household? I had this moment yesterday cooking dinner where I was not thinking about where is the puppy and wondering what is he doing (eating cat poop, tearing a hole in a sock, terrorizing one of our four cats), and then I looked down, and it surprised me to see him there on the floor near my feet. I had forgotten all about him and his needs for a moment, just as I no longer constantly think of my teenage son’s needs the same way I did when he was a baby. I guess that kind of all-consuming care is not sustainable.

Milton napping in my office.