Childcare and pet care both have their upsides, but there are a some great advantages to taking care of pets rather than children. Here are a few of those advantages.
- Pets don’t tell lies. You will never hear a pet say, “But my mommy lets me . . . “ Pets are perfectly honest. You can see it in their big, sweet eyes.
- Pets forgive and forget. If you accidentally step on a child’s toe, you might hear about it for the rest of the night. If you accidentally step on a dog’s tail, they will forgive you and move on. Obviously, you’ll feel terrible either way, but the dog will probably forgive you more quickly.
- You can talk to pets about anything. Childcare professionals aren’t usually encouraged to share their personal problems with the children they care for, but you can talk to pets about anything. They are great listeners and will keep all your secrets.
- Pets don’t complain. Okay, so they might whine a little bit if they want a treat or a walk, but generally, pets are quite congenial.
- Pets don’t ask personal questions. You will never hear a kitten ask you if you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. A chocolate lab will never ask why your teeth look yellow. A rabbit will never ask how old you are. Pets will accept you just the way you are.
- Pets don’t need bedtime stories. “Please tell me one more story!” said no cat ever.
- Pets will never call you fat. In fact, pets will never say anything that will hurt your feelings. They might growl at you or nip at your fingers, but they will never speak unkindly to you.
- Pets know how to chill. Sure dogs and cats can have plenty of energy and need plenty of attention, but even a chihuahua knows how to chill sometimes. They curl up in a patch of sunlight on the living room carpet and give us all a lesson in finding our zen.
- Pets will fetch. Children will make you fetch. Children, especially toddlers, know the art of throwing a toy across the room or dropping a toy from their high chair and watching you pick it up, but most dogs are happy to fetch the toys you throw. Of course, there’s the occasional dog that doesn’t understand the game, but in that case, you two can just curl up and watch a movie.
- Pets will protect you from danger, or at least, they will try to. Even the tiniest schnoodle will take their turn at the front window keeping watch.
- Pets will greet you with heartfelt joy when you come back again. They will never wish you were someone else, someone, taller, prettier, more fun, or more cool. They will just be happy to see you again and happy to spend the day with you again. It’s hard to get better than that.
