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Home Motherhood I was a Dog Mom First (And yes, that counts)

I was a Dog Mom First (And yes, that counts)

by C'MON MAMA September 9, 2020
September 9, 2020 10 comments

Long before my children made me a Mother, I was a Dog Mom.

It was a 13 year love story. His name was Hershey Bear.

It’s true what they say about never getting over your first love. Mine was a dog, and yes, he made me a Mom.

I had more loves-of-my-life make their way into the picture over those 13 years, including my husband and my children. But nothing and no one changed my love for Hershey.

13 years is a long time. But it wasn’t anywhere near long enough.

I miss him something fierce.

We were partners in all of what life threw at us. The joys, the heartbreaks, the new loves & additions, the losses, the sicknesses, the happiest moments—all of it. We shared knowing looks & side-eye glances. We walked together when one of us wanted to walk; we ran when one of us wanted to run. And when he became weak & needed to be carried, my love for him helped me become superhuman & lift my 100lb “little” boy up. He would’ve done the same.

I was a Dog Mom. He was my Boy. And I was his Mom.

DOG MOM fur mama adventures with fur baby2

The really unique thing about a dog (and maybe any super special pet), is that they can be the love of your life, your baby, and your best friend all rolled into one.

That was Hershey.

I was Dog’s Best Friend. He was Girl’s Best Friend. I was Dog Mom. He was my little (big) boy.

I was his. And he was mine.

If you’ve been a Dog Mom then you know how real that love is.

I’m a “real” Mom now. I have a son and a daughter. Yes, it’s different than being a Fur Mama.

Of course it is. Of course being a Mom to my children is different than being a Dog Mom. But, in so many ways, it’s the same.

Hershey was my child. He was Man of Honor at my wedding. He walked down the aisle. I tucked him in every single night for 13 years unless I was out of town. I loved him goodbye every time I left the house. If I forgot I’d literally reverse back down the street to run in & tell him bye.

My family and friends have always laughed about how crazy much I loved him. My husband often joked he didn’t know who I loved more. (He might’ve been only halfway joking. 🤨)

Hershey was with me every single step of the way for 13 years. My love for him was so real and consuming.

As silly as it sounds, one of my worries about having children was that I would have less time with him. Less time to spend with him, and less time to spend on him.

He was right there with me when I went from being a Dog Mom to a Mom Mom.

FUR BABY WAS PART OF OUR BABY ANNOUNCEMENTS SINCE I'M A DOG MOM

Of course our fur babies were part of our Baby Announcements. Because FAMILY.

He was gentle & patient with my first-born. My new little boy. He was easy & kind with my tiny baby despite being a behemoth of a dog. He never acted threatened, and if he acted anything less than perfect, I’d say “Hersheyyy” in that tone Moms have…& he’d listen. (Now that I have a 3 & 5 year old, I can confidently say I think dogs are better listeners.)

DOG MOM human kids with fur baby

Two years later came my daughter. Shortly after she was born, we found lymphoma in Hershey. We fought for him—with him—and he fought, too. Hard. I’d take him to Firehouse Subs after chemo treatments. I made him a room in the garage when he was too weak to go up & down the stairs. I even put our extra baby monitor down there so I could monitor him at night. The monitor would scan both of my kids’ rooms & then Hershey’s room.

See? Dog Mom.

At night after we put our kids down, I’d lie down there with him. It would feel so good just to pet & hold him in the quiet without the chaos of family life with 2 toddlers. To remind him that I was still there & it was still us. While my little babies were safely tucked in their beds, my big baby was safely tucked in my arms. His Mama’s arms. ❤️🐾

As his health got worse, I’d retreat down there & stay longer. Sometimes I’d talk to him about life & my new babies & Motherhood. Other times I’d just snuggle him in silence. I told myself I was doing it for him, but the truth is it was probably just as much for me. He’d been the constant in my life well before I ever started a family of my own, and I think being with him was comforting & reassuring for me, too.

dog mom first whenever i needed a hand(1)

It’s not fair that our dogs don’t get to stay here as long as us. They are nothing but love and they deserve longer.

And it’s not fair that we don’t get to be Dog Moms longer. It’s a beautiful bond that could last a lifetime if given the chance.

I say all the time how I’d freeze my children forever right now if I could. They love me so much at this point in their little lives. I’m their whole world. Time goes too fast. I do think the days are long but the years are short. I wish I could stop time.

I also felt that way with Hershey, but for different reasons.

It hurt me to see him changing & aging right in front of me. I wanted time to stop. I wanted to have longer with him.

It was difficult watching him get older, wondering if he was okay, if he ached, if I was doing everything right, and if he felt loved enough. He was down a spleen & battling lymphoma like a soldier. He had terrible arthritis because of those long legs of his. And he had severe hip dysplasia.

DOG MOM'S FUR BABY PAW PRINTS IN THE RAIN

These paw prints were everything.

It was hard to see him hurt.

As he got older, he struggled. Physically he became weaker, but his spirit only grew stronger.

Just like I kind of love the sticky little child handprints my kids leave all over the house, I loved Hershey’s paw prints. When I’d come home & see his wet or dirty paw prints on the floor, I’d be so touched. Because I knew the effort it took to get those prints there. The amount of will & strength it took my 100lb boy to get up & walk outside for a brief minute of fresh air before retreating back to his bed.

Years back I’d started taking him to therapeutic swimming to give his joints some relief. For over a decade, I’d saved my money to pay his vet bills, for all his bloodwork & medicine, to get him the right kind of food for his joints, and for the clencher—chemo. When I sold my Wrangler before having kids so I could get something safer, I was looking for two things—a comfortable, safe car for kids and a cargo area big enough for Hershey. (Oh, and heated seats, obvi.)

You know who does stuff like that? A Dog Mom.

DOG MOM fur mama laying with fur baby

We even started to look alike.

I was fortunate enough to be able to do all that for him. I know that’s not always possible. I’m extremely grateful to have had such a loving husband who never questioned any decision I made regarding my first little boy. He never made me feel like Hershey was “just a dog.”

Because our dogs aren’t “just dogs.” And we aren’t “just owners.”

My dog is the one who made me a Mama all those years ago. He will always be the one who made me a Mama. A Fur Mama.

Nothing—no amount of time or space or human kids—can change that.

Once a Mom, always a Mom. Even a Dog Mom.

Make no mistake about that.

dog mom fur mama with fur baby


 

Are you a Dog Mom? Were you a Fur Mama first?

 


Want more on Motherhood? —> Are you a SAHM? Or a BOYMOM? Have you been mom-shamed?

 

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10 comments

Kiley fisher June 26, 2020 - 3:59 pm

Being a dog mom definitely counts. They teach you a lot and even prep you for becoming a human mom. It is difficult to lose them but you always have your memories.

Reply
C'MON MAMA July 3, 2020 - 7:43 am

Being a dog mom definitely was my first dose of “motherly love” and you better believe that is a strong bond! Plus, my dog taught me how to take care of someone/something other than myself. I miss mine something fierce. ❤️

Reply
Katie Hoeppner August 20, 2019 - 11:39 pm

Oh my’! This really hits hard as I just had my first and my main man is starting to get older. He has always been my “first child”. My boy Frodo is already 10 and still has so much energy but the white face and slowing down really hits you hard when you’ve had them all your life. To them, you are their everything! So just keep on loving them, fur children and real children as life goes fast!

Reply
C'MON MAMA September 14, 2019 - 7:56 am

Oh I remember those little white whiskers. They start looking sophisticated. I loved that. And you are so right that we are their everything! And they are the most incredible companions we could ask for. I’m so glad your “new” baby gets to have some time with your first! <3

Reply
Candace Gale August 20, 2019 - 12:11 pm

I cried reading this article because I have that type of connection with my dog baby, Molly, who luckily is still here with me. When I adopted her, she had just been rescued from a kill-shelter and was presumed to be about four years old. She was completely overgrown, shaking, but with a quiet resolve as if she knew way more than us (humans-which is probably true). And even though I could barely see her face, when I walked by she sat calmly and just stared up at me. I knew from that moment that this tiny mop of a dog was my soulmate. Like you, she has grown up with me over the past eight years. She licked everyone of the tears off my face during the ten hour car ride after hearing my dad passed away. And, she stayed up with me all night when Iain wanted to breastfeed every 15 minutes. I’ve also walked back into the house or brought her with me countless times when I’ve heard her crying because she’s sad I left for the day. We’ve moved, traveled, explored, hibernated, mourned, rejoiced, and simply experienced life together. She’s my first baby and I love her fiercely. I thank God everyday for all of the special connections in my life because that’s what really matters…Finding and cherishing your soulmates including your spouses, children, family, friends, and especially your fur babies. 🥰 🐾

Reply
C'MON MAMA September 14, 2019 - 8:05 am

Candace, your comment made ME cry because I know all those same feels. That same love. And just like you said, that growing up together. And licking the tears away after such a heartbreak…I can so relate to that. And oh my goodness, I can’t count the number of times I ran back into the house because I forgot to hug Hershey goodbye. I get it, Mama. I’m so glad my kids will have memories with my Hershey and I’m so glad your son will have memories with your Molly. <3

Reply
Ellen Jenks August 20, 2019 - 10:34 am

You know this is my fav. My sweet Lola is still with us. 14 years of being a Dog Mom. She has grown up WITH me, and even helped raise my girls! My heart aches just thinking about walking in my house one day and not having her there to greet me!😳💕

Reply
C'MON MAMA September 14, 2019 - 8:01 am

I have always thought of your Lola when I think of Hershey. They were our first babies and just like you said – they grew up WITH us. And then helped us welcome our own little babies into the world. 14 amazing years. She is your first girl <3

Reply
Caroline August 12, 2019 - 1:21 pm

Beautiful read Christina. I miss Hershey Bear too. For those that don’t know, I picked that little boy out for my big sis! It was really something, being able to watch their bond throughout the years.

And as you know Christina, I can totally relate. I have an almost 7 year old renal failure pup. It is congenital renal failure, so we’ve been working through this for YEARS. She’s done so well, but I see her declining some now and it hurts to watch and I feel helpless. Though, we aren’t helpless. We do everything to make them more at ease. But it sometimes still feels like they are going at it alone.

Sending my love to the pups! 🐕 And to the people caring for the pups!

Reply
C'MON MAMA August 14, 2019 - 7:45 am

You picked him out! I’ll never forget that. ❤️ Of course I thought of you when writing this. You’re an amazing Dog Mom. Fur Mama. I know you’ve been fighting alongside your little girl all these years. I know how it feels & how hard it can be & how helpless you can sometimes feel. But I can honestly say, you’re doing everything humanly possible for her & giving her all the love she could ever want. And that’s everything. ❤️

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