The Important Role A Pet Has In A Family ( Why you and your children can benefit from a pet)

   

  I have been a pet owner since the tender age of 4 years old. I clearly remember my first pet, his name was Eric and he was a tiny little white and brown mouse. He was too cute for words and you can say I vividly remember Eric's coat pattern, so it was a very important memory in my childhood.
 I was so excited to finally have my own pet. I played with Eric all day.
 All I remember was not being able to wake up Eric the next morning. I pondered to myself what had happened when my mother explained to me that I had played with Eric too much and that he had died.
 I felt really bad about it and had to process death for the first time. I always remembered Eric and from then on out, was more attentive to my pet's needs and comfort. I was afraid of murdering the next one on accident!
 These days my son wakes up early, puts his shoes on, and scampers out to the chicken coop. He collects all the eggs and brings them up for breakfast. He then goes and fills up their waters and food buckets. When that is done he is usually holding his favorite chicken Thomas. ( Named after Thomas the Train)
 He has had Thomas since she was 2 days old. We picked her up from the feed store and had her under a heat lamp. There was five other chicks at the time, but I had told my son that was his little black chicken.
 My son felt the duty to nurture the small chick. Not just daily, but more than daily. It was adorable how the chicken followed my son and would often fall asleep in his arms. He once played outside for four hours straight with his chicken Thomas under his arm.
 I cannot stress the importance of teaching children to love. World peace literally rests in the hands of our children and how we raise our children.
 My son didn't start out as a perfect pet owner. He would often say he fed the chickens and I would find out it was a handful and not a whole bucket. I would show him how they were starving and I would tell him, " How do you think you would feel if you only had a crumb for breakfast?".
  It gives the children a chance to be responsible for another life. Even when the pet dies, it gives the child a chance to process death for maybe the first time.
 We had a chicken get murdered by a dog because my son left the coop open on accident one morning. He was able to view the chicken's body, ask me questions and feel bad about leaving the door open. It is very healthy for our children to experience and process emotions correctly. My son has never left the chicken coop unlocked since and has a good outlook on heaven as some children experience anxiety when they think about death. Sometimes when a person dies, the family can ignore the emotional needs of a child in a grieving period. I believe animals will produce situations where parents can help a child learn to self cope, learn to accept loss and then move on/let go. Most emotional issues adults face stem from not being able to have healthy relationships and learning to let go.
 A pet can be a healthy relationship if done properly. I find families sometimes don't prepare for a pet, or often, overprepare -without recognizing a pet is like a person,( they don't just come in a box and act like a perfect pet) sometimes pets needs 5 days to 3 months to adjust. Sometimes longer-depending on breed. Buying any pet can work, but if your pressed for time and worried about a huge commitment, there are better/easier alternatives.
 A good rescue organization can often find you a perfect match. If your a busy parent who is anti pet because you feel like you don't need another chore to tend to, consider getting a pet that is 2 years old or older. Often times dogs are already potty trained, spayed, healthy, and sometimes trained. I have seen this work for many busy parents, and the dog is always so thrilled with all the attention. If you think about how much your children will play with the pet and care for it's needs, it's really a win/win situation.
 Cats are wonderful for children too. Kittens are always a fun addition to any family.
 You have to think, if you child can't learn to care for an animal, how are they ever going to learn to care for themselves properly or any loved one/future child? How are they going to process their bad day in a healthy way when they had a bad day at school and then a bad day at home?
 Animals are telepathic beings. They are also very connected with the earth. Often they can sense when someone has bad energy or when there's going to be a natural disaster. There are several studies that people are actually healthier with pets than without. I've seen in my ten year grooming career many people who pass away shortly after their beloved pet does.
 There is something magical about a child's relationship with their own pet. I have watched my 1700 pound horse lick my son's head and gently walk behind him slowly. I have seen my dog carefully guard my son when he first learned to walk. She never strayed more than a few feet from his side. I have seen a rabbit fall asleep in my son's arms. My son knows love, he has experienced unconditional love.
 He has what most children take years to learn. Some adults I know still haven't learned it. He has compassion for all. There is no judgement in my son's eyes for any person or animal. He has mastered empathy at the age of 4, directly due to his relationship with animals. He knows when an animal is frightened, and he educates other children on how to handle and care for them. He would never tolerate someone abusing an animal, let alone another human being.
 The worst crimes commited these days are by people who started off abusing animals. Most of the people I know who never owned an animal before have the worst relationships with other people. They cannot even master friendships and often indulge in careless behaviors. I notice with these types of people, they are so shocked when an animal does the littlest thing, as though they can't believe there's something behind those eyes.
 I have known many different species of animals. I have loved from the moment of birth animals bred for meat, I have known and formed relationships with abused animals-understanding where their fear comes from-and knowing how to communicate with them. They are all amazing and personable. From every chicken to every lizard to every pig to every dog. If it wasn't for the huge animal influence in my youth, I would not be the person I am today. Please, if you know a child without access to a pet, inform their parents how important it is for the child's well being to have that connection to nature. A loving child is priceless.