About a month ago we adopted a puppy. For the first time in a long time, we
had a tiny bit of breathing room. So
we took a big breath and filled that space with a puppy. This crazy move could mean that we have
lost our last shred of common sense.
Or it might mean that we are finding our sense of joyful
abandon again.
The newest member to our family is a Boston Terrier named
Jasper. This little guy came into
our lives unexpectedly. Gail, our
friend who breeds Boston Terriers, had been nursing along little Jasper (a
preemie puppy weighing just 4 ounces at birth). For years she has shared her terriers as therapy dogs and
has helped Evan interact them. One
of the dogs plays ball with Evan.
Gail introduced us to Jasper and told us his story. It was through her wise, vigilant, and
determined care that this little guy is here today. He is her little miracle puppy. Holding Jasper is amazing. His little warm body melts into your arms and makes your
heart swell with serenity. I first
held him when I was walking off excess energy before a radio interview in
August. Those five minutes of
holding Jasper calmed and centered my mind. I knew he had special powers that could bring healing to my
family. I’m sure that Gail sensed
it too.
We borrowed Jasper for a half-day here and there; then a
full day; then an entire weekend.
We fell in love and now he is here to stay. We wanted the puppy especially for the boys, but he has had
an impact on all of us.
To start with, Evan is no longer the youngest member of the
family – and Evan knows it. For now,
Jasper has taken over center stage.
Initially Evan was confused as to how we could be lavishing so much
attention on the puppy (attention that usually went to him). There were moments of jealousy and
uncertainty. Now it seems this
shift in attention is helping Evan continue his quest to be independent. He understands that members of the
family need to take turns being center stage. Bringing Jasper into the mix has been the perfect way to put
this lesson into action.
Evan is a natural caregiver to his new puppy, having been
the recipient of care for so many years.
He lets Jasper out of his crate in the morning; he sits patiently by
Jasper (who often needs company while he eats); he is gentle with his petting;
he walks Jasper around the yard; he loves to give him reward treats; he is
eager to help train Jasper to obey commands (he seems happy to be the one
giving directions for a change).
Jonathan finally has a companion dog. He loves the quiet moments he spends
next to the sleeping puppy - that little bundle of warm, soft, loving
goodness. It is the soothing and
steady presence for which he has yearned.
There is a part of his heart that desperately needs a pet’s love,
unconditional and always there for a moment of stress-free, happy companionship.
The boys are experiencing what we had hoped for. I am surprised at the impact the puppy
has had on Randy and me. We have
found our hearts softening as we play with the puppy. As parents of a child with special healthcare needs, our hearts
have toughened up. Toughened up in
the sense that we have learned how to take hard news without feeling it well up
inside of ourselves and break our hearts.
We can’t let emergencies send our bodies into a state of panic. We can’t let disappointments slow us
down. In some ways, we have become
almost stoic.
Perhaps one of the unexpected effects of this toughening up
is that we don’t take in the good stuff completely either. Part of us is always on guard for a
healthcare crisis, which would be all that much harder to bear coming from a happy
place. It seems all our emotions
had melded into one mostly neutral, content with where we are, state of
being. Bringing this puppy Jasper into our lives is allowing all of
us to let down our guards, soften our hearts, and allow a sweet playfulness, joyful
abandon even, back into our lives.
He reminds us of this each day.
