Recently I was at the movies with my dad. I was super excited to be seeing “IT Movie” with him because the original version absolutely terrified me as a child. My dad always encouraged me to watch scary movies (I joke and call it child abuse) so it was only fitting that we saw this film together. My dad and I aren’t super close, but I love him and enjoy spending time with him one-on-one. So anyways, we were at the movies and dad was asking me about upcoming travels with Wynston when he said to me, “I have some business I want to talk to you about with Wynston.” I instantly cringed. The narcissism was about to get real. He followed up with, “I don’t like that you call Wynston your ‘son.” I looked him in the eye and said, “I don’t care what you think.” And the discussion began.
My dad has a dog named Sophie, whom I rescued from the county shelter in fall 2010. Sophie is my dad’s everything. She’s his princess, his baby, his little girl. Dad began discussing his relationship with Sophie, telling me that she’s one of the most important living beings on this Earth to him. So I asked dad, “You call Sophie your baby. I call Wynston ‘my son.’ What’s the difference?” He didn’t have an argument except for, “it’s just weird. I wouldn’t call Sophie my daughter because you are my daughter.” “Well,” I said, “I don’t have human kids, nor do I want human kids, so my animals are my sons and daughters. In fact, I know plenty of people with human kids who still refer to their pets as their sons and daughters. It’s much more common than you’d think.” My dad had the nerve to say, “I don’t know. I still think you might have kids someday.” “Then you obviously don’t know me very well, dad,” I explained, my blood pressure rising.
After that, my dad no longer had an argument. Beneath his close-mindedness, I think he may have seen my point. Later he brought up my trip again and I said something snarky like, “Yeah, I can’t wait to go with MY SON!” With a big smile on my face, I looked at him as he chuckled and shook his head. Bam.
The thing is, who effing cares what I call my dogs? Whether I call Wynston my son, my baby, my love, my companion, my best friend, they are all terms of endearment. I happen to treat Wynston like my son and as far as I’m concerned, he is my son, so that’s the term I prefer to use.
Disagree, ridicule me, express your dismay – at the end of the day, I truly couldn’t care less.
I know my dad won’t read this blog post because I don’t think he’s ever read one of my blog posts. Those are the people who tend to judge my decisions. So why should I dwell on it? But dad, if you do get wind of this post, just know that I love you and will always hear you out. However, this is 2017, so you need to open your heart and mind a little bit 😉
Tell me, friends. What terms of endearment do you use for your pets?
Yvonne H. says
I have a human child, my daughter Alex, whom I love more than life itself. She grown and moved out now, living a life of her own. I have a canine child, my son :Phinn, who I also love more than life itself. He is my constant companion and best friend. I usually call him “my little man”. <3
Christina Berry | The Lazy Pit Bull says
I call my dogs my babies, but I wouldn’t refer to them as my daughters… but that’s just me. Whatever other dog moms want to call their pets, I’m cool with it. It’s the people who want to voice an (unrequested) opinion that bug me. Who cares what they think… especially if they’re going to be negative about it.
Brandi Lytle says
Usually, I call Maddie my fur baby, but my hubby and I do refer to her as “our daughter.” My mom calls Maddie her granddog and my sis-in-law refers to Maddie as her niece. I’m very blessed that our family embraces our baby and even buys her Christmas presents! She is our kid for sure. If others don’t understand that, well, I suppose that’s their problem. I know who Maddie is! 🙂
Denise says
I call them my fur kids and have given my parents a sign that says, “so you are telling me my grandkid is a dog”. I gave it to them while I was still single but they love it and call themselves my fur kids grandparents. They will continue to be my fur kids and their grandkids even when we have human kids since we have decided to adopt.
Brandi Lytle says
That is awesome that you are adopting, Denise! I hope all goes smoothly and you have your little human soon. 🙂 But you are right, fur babies are still our kids even when the two-legged come along. When Bruna (our exchange daughter) was living with us, Maddie (our fur kid) was still a HUGE part of the family. We even celebrated her birthday while Bruna was here! Just like you wouldn’t ignore your first human kid when a second one comes along, we can’t ignore our fur kids when a human kid comes into the family!
Amanda says
You make a great point, Brandi! It breaks my heart when I hear that people surrender their dogs because a baby is coming into the picture. Absolutely horrible. Those people shouldn’t have kids to begin with though.
Amanda says
I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to see all of the photos!!!!
Sherry says
I call my male dog and cat my boys. And my daughters pups have always been granddogs. Get over it world! ?
Sonja of Montecristo Travels says
Montecristo is our son. I don’t say baby anymore – but little “man” since I did the math and realized he’s … my age in dog years! LOL I kid! I kid! If I can call my 56 year old hubby “Babe” then I can call my 7 year old Chi my baby. The point is … those that get offended …. it’s more about them than you. I have a friend that lovingly calls her little Pom her sweet dependent. It’s adorable.
I am far more at ease with terms of endearment like this than the term “owner”. That word actually makes me cringe. Because it’s … not a term of endearment is it…
Amanda says
I totally agree with you. “Owner” makes me cringe also. I will go out of my way to correct people who say “owner” because I hate it so much!
Anna Sakila says
Love your thinking. Who cares what others think and say, I still call my dogs my little boy. Over it! ?