Don't ask me why, but I've never really been the type of person who cared for pets much. We always had them around the house while I was growing up, but as far as I was concerned they belonged to everyone else but me. Oh no... not my problem. Until my own kids came along to change it all. The moment my kids started befriending the snails and earthworms in the backyard, I knew it was time to surrender. If you're ready too, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- Make sure your kids don't have any special allergies. You don't want your kids to get attached to a pet to only see it have to go away because of allergic reactions.
- Before deciding on the type of pet you want, let your kids play with someone else's pet. Maybe take a trip to the dog park, a local pet shop. Offer to pet site for family, neighbors or close friends with pets. This is a great way for your kids to begin to get exposed to the responsibilities of pet ownership.
- Take a trip to your local library and checkout a few books to learn more about the type of pet you're interested in getting.
- Once you've all agreed to a specific pet, breed, etc. Make sure you SET EXPECTATIONS! Bathing, feeding, cleaning up the pet's area, vet visits, grooming. All this requires a lot of time, attention, and money. Discuss this with your spouse and/or children and agree to plan that makes sense for everyone.
More Parenting Articles
Becoming A Parent: Are You Ready?Parenthood Is Calling: Are You Ready To Meet The Challenge?
Test Misses One-Third Of Kids With Pre-Diabetes
Are Your Kids Ready For A Pet?
Who Said I Was The Perfect Parent?
