A Comparison

This was our life in New York. Every weekend Chris and I drove Cece to White Plains so we could play at the dog park. We were dog people, and just like the dogs we had our pack of friends we met at the park. They were the true die hard park buddies who were there every weekend for 2 or more hours a day. Poor Cece hasn't been to a dog park since we moved. All of the Minneapolis dog parks' fences are 3 feet high. Cece can jump the darn things from a standing position. It irks me since there is a huge dog park only a 10 minute walk away so for now she deals with her 3 walks a day (spoiled dog, I know).

Anyways, I've found some comparisons between our old life and new life. I've heard over the years that a dog's intelligence is about equal to a toddler. Not sure if this has any scientific backing. Depending on your dog you could think this is pretty cool or might think it is an insult to the human race. Or I guess a dog person looking at a toddler could think it is insulting to the canine species. Here are the main comparisons I've found.

Dog Park vs Daycare

Names--You learn the dogs/kids names WAY before you learn the parents' names. After 6 months of going to the dog park, it was a little awkward to finally introduce myself to Tyson the boxer's owner. You would think after months of shivering outside in the snow talking about dogs, weather, and basic chit chat that we would have said our names at least once. I'm trying to be better about this at day care. I'd rather not wait for little Grayson to ask Penelope to prom before I introduce myself to his mom.

Enter with a warning--Today I dropped Penelope off at daycare after her 18 month check up appt. In the morning the teachers are prepared and ready to distract each child away from the door and parents leaving. Well, entering at 11:00 meant that the kids were transitioning from music time to bibs and highchairs for lunch. Just like the dog park the new kid coming in the door was swarmed by everyone until Penelope had a melt down. There's just a few differences.

Dog park: Cece enters park without us warning owners to hold their dogs back from the gate bark bark bark (sniff butt) bark bark bark (more butt sniffing) Finally Cece has had enough, snarls and barrels through the pack to get to an open space.

Day care: I bring Penny into the toddler classroom without announcing our presence to the teachers. The children who one second before had seemed quite interested in waving scarves to music are now closing in on us yelling "hi Penelope, hola Penelope's mama, Penelope!"and reaching out to touch her. Penny turns her head into my legs and cries.

Mine! Penelope's new favorite word. Any toy is interchangeable in this point. The usual at the dog park is a yellow tennis ball, while daycare it is pretty much any toy.

Rules of mine*:

My owner/parent touched it so it is MINE.

I picked it up first so it is MINE

I wrestled it away from you. MINE MINE MINE

I know there are 4 other identical toys in this room/park. They are all MINE

Your parent/owner told you to share it with me. Thus it is MINE

You rolled it in poop. It is yours and you have to give it to your owner/teacher.

*adaptation of the Toddler's Creed

Favorites Dogs and kids quickly make favorites with other owners/teachers than you. It is heart-lifting and a twinge of sadness for me. Cece had one owner she'd go and sit down next to every time he was there. Big deal since she is generally afraid of people. At day care every day Penelope and I walk by her old baby room she wants to stop in to say "buh bye" to Irma and blow her kisses. She is already falling in love with 2 of the teachers in her toddler room too. They have such a great staff at her day care.

Maybe it is offensive to compare kids and daycare to our pooch and the dog park, but I can't help but notice the similarities. Plus, until I left for college my mom constantly compared us to pigs, and I personally find that a tad bit more insulting, even if my room was a mess.

I will say Cece is a little bit relieved that we have someone else to dress up.