Being Dogmama Sux

[mtbdarby]

DM and DH,
More hugs and heartfelt sympathies on your loss. I hope your husband is getting the help he needs to deal with all the old wounds this opening. May the healing begin for the both of you.

And tell work to shove it......man, they can be so insensitive sometimes!

[latelatebloomer]

When we lost Reba, our shepherd, my DH took it so hard I was frightened for him. He had never had a dog before. I heard him say to his dad on the phone that it seemed a preview for all his losses to come, his parents, his siblings. A little like your DH connecting Kati's death to the loss of his friends. I had a talk with our farm vet who said that in his experience, women certainly grieved, but he saw men really brought to their knees. I wonder if women just live closer to the cycle of birth and death, and men push it away - so that when it comes, it rocks them to the core.

Take gentle care of each other, and I hope you can bring a new dog (but the right one!) into the house before long. That's what my family always did - it couldn't really take away the hurt but it helped to have a new life in the house, one that wasn't grieving.

It's been about 7 years since we lost Reba. I hate being dogless, but we're not home enough these days. When we had Reba, our schedules were staggered and she was only home alone 3 days a week. The goats aren't as needy - and they're very good companions, too.