It's time for Question of the Month, hosted by Michael D'Agostino. Today's question is, what one thing made you grow up?
Grow up? Who said I ever grew up? I'm just a big kid. But if I have to pick something that has made me a bit more responsible, I'd have to say having my first child. There's something to be said about being responsible for the complete well-being of a helpless baby. I had learned responsibility when I moved out of my parent's house and had my own place. But having a child added a whole new dimension to things. I couldn't just do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I not only had to make sure I met the physical needs of my child, but also provide for their emotional well-being. I also had to make sure I was leading by good example. It's a big job!
How about you? What made you "grow up"?
Now for the story:
Schultz, our giant German Shepherd, was getting kind of stinky. He needed a bath. That meant a dunk in our jacuzi. (Yes, his winter baths are like spa treatments. No outside hoses for these.)
Baths for Schultz are always messy situations. But this time Schultz was exceptionally messy. Why? Because he's shedding. (I have no idea why he'd do that in the middle of winter. It's kind of crazy. But whatever.) By the time Schultz was done, he had covered every square inch of the tub with hair. And did he stop there? No!
He gave himself a big shake in the bathroom. Hair flew everywhere. On the floor. On the walls. Even on the ceiling.
But that wasn't all.
He went out into our bedroom. What happened then? You guessed it. He shook his hairy body and more hair plastered the walls.
After that, he went out in the hall and ran up and down it gleefully. I don't know how he did it, but he managed to cover our white walls with black hair in less than a minute.
Let's just say it took a VERY long time to clean up that mess! I'm still finding German Shedder hairs in places they don't belong!
Grow up?
ReplyDeleteSheesh...when I was a kid, I think the adults had all the answers. I looked to them for wisdom, for knowing what to do, no matter what happened.
It's daunting to think my kids look at me the same way.
Still...grow up? Pull my finger?
On a philosophical note, I think the only people who really grow up are the ones who have really tough lives - many of them don't have the chance to know what it's like to be a carefree kid.
DeleteMy sister often admits that having a baby is what made her really feel grown up. It's that whole being responsible for another life. I get that. I don't have kids of my own, but driving acar with one of my nephews in a carseat gave me a whole new perspective. Being responsible for another life is wonderful and scary; only suitable for the grown up.
ReplyDeleteIt most certainly does make you feel more responsible.
DeleteSo basically he was all shook up as he shook that body down to the ground? (Sing along!)
ReplyDeleteSee, I will never ever grow up. I'd like to keep it that way.
Yep. All shook up! It's fun to have at least a small part of you that's like a little kid.
DeleteOh my gosh Sherry, that must have been a terrible mess to clean up ... that's nuts ... lol
ReplyDeleteHaving my first daughter made me grow up quick... another human being relied on me. Like you I had to step up and be an adult xox
It was a mess! I hate giving that dog baths when he's shedding!
DeleteHi, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteI would answer the question of the month the same way you did:
What made you "grow up"?
Grow up? The concept does not even compute. I have spent my whole life determined never to grow up and so far... so good. I intend to remain filled with childlike wonder and curiosity, youthful spirit and enthusiasm and rock 'n' roll rebellion from cradle to grave.
Your story about giving Schultz a bath reminds me of my Toto. Mrs. Shady always washed Toto in the laundry sink. When finished, she lowered Toto onto a large towel in order to dry her off. Inevitably Toto would break free and go scurrying around the house, shaking water everywhere and rubbing her coat against the walls and furniture. First chance she got, Toto would be outdoors rolling in poop or dead lizards in order to get the stink of shampoo out of her fur! :)
Happy new year to you and your delightful family, Sherry, and here's to another year of fun and friendship in 2017!
Your Toto sounds like a character. At least Schultz doesn't immediately go outside and get himself dirty. (Although he has been known to eat poop.)
DeleteI don't ever wanna bathe a dog!
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you. It's not exactly fun.
DeleteI'm still a kid at heart,
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you Sherry and your lovely family.
Yvonne.
Thank you. Happy New Year to you, too!
DeleteI can imagine kids would make one grow up a bit, I'll now go back to fart jokes though.
ReplyDeletelol so glad the cats don't shed that much hair.
Bootsy is not nearly as bad as Schultz!
DeleteWow, that's a lot of hair.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for growing up? I haven't.
I think most of us can say the same thing.
DeleteFor me, having my first child was also a turning point in my life where I learned that my first priority had to be my child (and later, children).
ReplyDeleteGood luck with cleaning up the hairs. If the vacuum doesn't get everything, try wide and sticky tape.
I have a lint roller for the hairs that are particularly sticky.
DeleteAnother great Schultz story, you really must consider getting him to write his memoirs.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about writing a beginning readers series featuring Schultz. We'll see.
DeleteHaving to watch my brother and sister for short periods of time (I think--seemed like forever) starting when they were both in diapers and I was only six. You grow up quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhat a mess to clean up. Awk!! Makes me glad to only have to clean up cat barf--LOL! ;)
Cat barf is bad enough!
DeleteI can imagine all the clean ups. Our dog, Elliott, does the same thing. His hair goes everywhere! He loves rolling around when he's wet too.
ReplyDeleteSchultz rolls around in the grass after his summer outside baths. It's kind of funny to watch.
DeleteShedding seasons can be tough! I know when I had my golden retriever the seasons when he shed made me up to my eyeballs in hair! I can picture the scene you described perfectly. Hope all the hair is cleaned up now.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy and healthy new year. :)
~Jess
I think we have the hair situation under control now.
DeleteUgh. That dog would be in deep doo doo at my house. Did you ground him?
ReplyDeleteSo you're telling me we grew up? ;) Actually, I grew up fairly young. I was barely 13 when I really became an "adult." For me, it was due to bullying, and gaining the perspective that comes from understanding how small minded people can be. It was the point at which I took control of my life, my reputation, and my education, and BECAME. (Rather than reacting to the environment.) It's sad that it happened so young, but it's also a reality for many kids.
That would make you grow up. I'm glad you took a positive approach and let it change you for the better.
DeleteLol:) No growing up going on over here with me either:)
ReplyDeleteIt's more fun to be a kid!
DeleteMy snow white Shiba Inu does that all the time, and let me tell you, white is not any better or any less noticeable than black. And maybe that's why I'm still a giant kid, I haven't HAD kids. I don't know if I'm ready to be THAT responsible yet (gasp).
ReplyDeleteHaha! I bet you'd be a really fun dad!
DeleteManfaat Daun Meniran Untuk Mengobati Penyakit Ayan
ReplyDeleteSalah satu cara untuk mengobati penyakit ayan adalah dengan menggunakan daun meniran yang ternyata di samping dapat membantu menyembuhkan ayan juga bisa digunakan sebagai obat malaria.
I was pretty much forced to grow up when I was 14 and my parents split up. Very violently. To other ends of the country. I quickly learned, in that instance, that parents are just people and, as people, are very imperfect.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you had to experience that. It's bad enough when parents divorce, but when it's on such unfriendly terms, it's even harder. Yes, nobody is perfect - not even parents.
DeleteI hope you and yours had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and are having a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. May we display your header on our new site directory? As it is now, the site title (linked back to its home page) is listed, and we think displaying the header will attract more attention. In any event, we hope you will come by and see what is going on at SiteHoundSniffs.com.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. I'll check out your site.
DeleteMy dog sheds a lot, too, but is nowhere near as big as a German Shepard. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteGerman Shepherds are ridiculous shedders!
DeleteO.M.G...I can just imagine how much hair that was! And I know it was way more than my dogs (which are small dogs.) They have a tendency of running around like crazy dogs after I give them a bath and rubbing against everything, lol.
ReplyDeleteI think all dogs do that!
DeleteYep. Running around after bath and rolling seems to be a favorite. Our horse does that. He rolls around in teh ground just after a bath.
ReplyDeleteIt's like they're trying to get the good smells off of them! (But they're probably just trying to dry off.)
DeleteTotally agree with you there! Having that first kid is life changing. No going back, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteThe cleaning up after Schultz's bath sounds like it was way more work!
ReplyDelete