Dogs
Our Wednesday Wisdom this week comes to us from Roger Caras, an American naturalist and wildlife photographer. This photo is mine, from one of my high school photography classes. Let’s call it “Spaniel in Situ.”
This is my dog, Cubby. She came home with us when she was just a puppy. My mom let me name her and I wanted to name her Cub-cake, like a mash-up between a bear cub and a cupcake. I’m sure my mom thought that was crazy, but she went with it.
It reminded me that as parents, we can let a lot go. Crazy dog name? Go for it! Mismatched socks? No big deal. Wearing shorts well into November? Okay, pal.
If it doesn’t compromise your child’s health or safety – or your family’s core values, I’d say, let it go. Maybe it’s not our dogs that make our lives whole. Maybe our lives are only complete when we get to be our whole selves – oddities and all.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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