Daily Affirmations

Who can resist a kitten?

(This blog is dedicated to my peeps on the farm--you all rock!)

I am going to start this blog with a confession:  I am a drama queen.  My family knows this and they probably share many eye-rolls at my expense, but that's okay.  I am passing down my genes to my kids and have made sure to curse both daughters with this gene as well and so far things are going on schedule so la-dee-da.  "You'll get yours for making fun of me when you have kids.  Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!"  Part of my weakness is that I need lots of attention and positive strokes for my meager accomplishments so this is why I have cats.  You don't understand the connection?  Let me explain.

Toonsis...the sweet puddy-tat

My cats are kind of silly.  They aren't all that smart or special in the sense that they belong on America's Got Talent, but I think they have skills.  I am a happy housewife.  I used to have a very lucrative career but retired some time ago when my health problems became a bit overwhelming and getting out of bed became an issue.  This is where cats are an asset.  They make great foot warmers as well as back rests and nap buddies.  Cats never make me feel guilty for not getting up to do dishes or laundry, and I think when there's competitive sleeping involved I can ALMOST win.  They are good pets if you don't require a lot of energy for feeding or playing or walking or being catatonic.  In fact, if you aren't allergic to cats, they are THE BEST pets in my opinion, especially if you are disabled or elderly because they are pretty lazy and won't require you to do much of anything except uploading "adorable" videos to YouTube and becoming eccentric and estranged from your family during reunions when you wear sweaters you find at flea markets.  When they are kittens they can be a handful, but it's very temporary and awfully fun to name them after people you know and then invite those people over.   Cats are practically born housebroken and natural neatnicks so you won't have a smelly pet unless you have a problem scooping litter.  Or you hoard cats.  Please don't hoard cats.

Watching at the door

Now, for the attention that I need...I am often alone at home while my loved ones pursue their busy lives (which is how it should be) and I really enjoy my solitude.  However, while mommy has the duty of encouraging the kids and being there for my darling hubby to come home to, there is that tiny voice inside me named Self-Doubt that won't shut up no matter how many wonderful things I do for others or how often I buy myself chocolate.  I have my limits because I spend a fair amount of time in doctor appointments and this has been the worst year so far with hospital "procedures," but I long to do something worthwhile and leave my legacy like anyone else.  I'm not sure how other mothers do it, I juggle lots of projects and the typical duties of a stay-home mom are numerous and seldom noticed by those who are at the receiving end of those activities.  But the struggle is to not complain about my role and count my blessings at the same time.  So I look at my precious felines and smile because they represent little pieces of serenity that walk around talking to me and thanking me for every little thing I do.

My lovable Tigger

When I feed them in the morning, they meow and wind their little bodies around me anxiously until they have their bowls filled.  They know the drill and I'm happy to see them each morning waiting for me at the top of the stairs where they greet me with chirps and happy tails.  When it's naptime, Tigger reminds me how tired I really am and accompanies me to my room where he curls his body into me and spoons me into sweet healing slumber.  When the weather is fair, they all sit on the porch and stare excitedly at the birds and entertain me with their dilated pupils and wild scampering from one side to the other.  And when I come home from wherever, they come out from under the couch or the bed or whatever cuddly corner they were in and sleepily yawn at me as if to say, "Yo, familiar-smelling big bald cat!  Glad you're here.  Where's our tender vittles?" 

Toonsis attempting to prevent a housebreak

This doesn't sound like much, but for me these are my daily affirmations.  My little furry dependents.  Anyone who loves their cats can tell you that owning one and loving one are two different things and when you love a cat definitely they love you back.