Zoë's love, Shack
For the past couple of years, Zoë has begged almost constantly for a pet of her own. This intensified once we got Zane, since in theory at least, he was Zach's 
substitute for the little brother he didn't get (though it's not played out that way, and Zane and I are best buddies instead). But until recently, Kelly and I haven't thought Zoë was anywhere near mature enough to care for a pet. She has enough trouble keeping her room semi-clean, and she's still grappling with some little kid/big kid transition issues. Worse, the pets she's asked for--turtles and lizards one day, hamsters and guinea pigs the next--are not things I wanted to welcome in our home. Daddy doesn't do reptiles, and Daddy doesn't do rodents.
Still, Zoë had an absolutely remarkable school year, culminating in the first-grade equivalent of a straight-A report card. And, she's so full of love and so short on companions, given the playmate issues in our neighborhood, that there seemed to be some logic in providing her with something to which she could bond emotionally. And if she did, might it not follow that being responsible for something of her own might not help with the leap from little kid to big? Kelly and I thought and hoped so.
Visiting Petco on Saturday, Zoë asked, as she always does, if she could look at the animals that were up for adoption. I said yes, and minutes later, she came running back telling me there was a kitten that I just HAD to see. Not this again, I thought, making an excuse not to go look. She begged, and I gave in, hoping I could appease her by doing so.
When I saw the object of her interest, I'll admit I was smitten within seconds myself. A four-month-old, medium-haired male with a sleek build and black hair, with adorable white highlights and whiskers, "Shack" was described as the last of a rambunctious litter of four abandoned at a young age (and never mind that the adoption agency didn't know how to spell "Shaq," which was just as well). It was clear he had character to spare, and he soaked up all the attention we gave him.
As we played with Shack and the other cats through their cages, it was obvious he was by far the most playful of the bunch. The next thing I knew, I was jotting down the adoption contact's number. This didn't go unnoticed by Zoë, who immediately began asking why I was doing so. I tried brushing her off, but she wasn't biting. It was all I could do to get her to walk away from the cage and tell Shack goodbye--a clear case of love at first sight.
Flash forward to yesterday. After an agonizing 48-hour wait on the adoption agent who was busier than normal doing rescues in the fires, Zoë was climbing the walls. But once contact was made, it was only a matter of minutes before Kelly arrived home with Shack in tow. And once she did, it was all we could do to contain the kids' excitement--and ours, too, frankly--over our new little family member.
And, it would be all we could do to get Zoë to bed last night, as she begged to stay up and play with Shack all night. Watching her care for him, talk to him, cuddle him and play with him, I got the feeling that even if it began as love at first sight, this is a love that will last.
substitute for the little brother he didn't get (though it's not played out that way, and Zane and I are best buddies instead). But until recently, Kelly and I haven't thought Zoë was anywhere near mature enough to care for a pet. She has enough trouble keeping her room semi-clean, and she's still grappling with some little kid/big kid transition issues. Worse, the pets she's asked for--turtles and lizards one day, hamsters and guinea pigs the next--are not things I wanted to welcome in our home. Daddy doesn't do reptiles, and Daddy doesn't do rodents.Still, Zoë had an absolutely remarkable school year, culminating in the first-grade equivalent of a straight-A report card. And, she's so full of love and so short on companions, given the playmate issues in our neighborhood, that there seemed to be some logic in providing her with something to which she could bond emotionally. And if she did, might it not follow that being responsible for something of her own might not help with the leap from little kid to big? Kelly and I thought and hoped so.
Visiting Petco on Saturday, Zoë asked, as she always does, if she could look at the animals that were up for adoption. I said yes, and minutes later, she came running back telling me there was a kitten that I just HAD to see. Not this again, I thought, making an excuse not to go look. She begged, and I gave in, hoping I could appease her by doing so.
When I saw the object of her interest, I'll admit I was smitten within seconds myself. A four-month-old, medium-haired male with a sleek build and black hair, with adorable white highlights and whiskers, "Shack" was described as the last of a rambunctious litter of four abandoned at a young age (and never mind that the adoption agency didn't know how to spell "Shaq," which was just as well). It was clear he had character to spare, and he soaked up all the attention we gave him.
As we played with Shack and the other cats through their cages, it was obvious he was by far the most playful of the bunch. The next thing I knew, I was jotting down the adoption contact's number. This didn't go unnoticed by Zoë, who immediately began asking why I was doing so. I tried brushing her off, but she wasn't biting. It was all I could do to get her to walk away from the cage and tell Shack goodbye--a clear case of love at first sight.
Flash forward to yesterday. After an agonizing 48-hour wait on the adoption agent who was busier than normal doing rescues in the fires, Zoë was climbing the walls. But once contact was made, it was only a matter of minutes before Kelly arrived home with Shack in tow. And once she did, it was all we could do to contain the kids' excitement--and ours, too, frankly--over our new little family member.
And, it would be all we could do to get Zoë to bed last night, as she begged to stay up and play with Shack all night. Watching her care for him, talk to him, cuddle him and play with him, I got the feeling that even if it began as love at first sight, this is a love that will last.
posted by Scott at
2:30:00 PM
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