Dear Kid,

Even the Puppy is getting into the Hanukkah spirit.

Puppy: Candles! It’s time for candles!
Me: I’ll be right there
Puppy: It’s time now! The candles are ready!
Me: Yes, but we’re not quite ready. You have to wait a minute
Puppy: How can you wait a minute when there are candles?

Puppy: The candles are pretty
Me: Yes they are
Puppy: Everyone gets to light one
Me: Yes, we take turns
Puppy: When is my turn?
Me: You don’t get a turn
Puppy: Why not? I would like a turn
Pi: You don’t have thumbs
Me: You have the Very Important Job of Watching
Puppy: I have an important job!

Puppy: Now it’s time for presents!
Pi: Sit down, Mister
Puppy: But I get a treat because I was a good boy during the candle lighting
Me: You were a very good boy
Puppy: And I get a treat
Pi: You get a treat in a minute
Puppy: I’m sure I get a treat. I will look for my treat.
Me: You get your treat in a minute
Puppy: Looking in the bag. No treat in the bag. Looking in the box. No treat in the box. Somebody stole my treat!
Me: No one stole your treat
Puppy: Did someone forget my treat?
Pi: You silly boy. Here is your treat.
Puppy: I like Hanukkah very much.
Me: Say “Thank You” nicely
Puppy: I thought I just did

Puppy: Can we do this again tomorrow night?
Me: Hanukkah is 8 days. So yes, we can light candles again tomorrow night.
Puppy: And then after candles I get a treat
Pi: Yes you do because you are a good boy
Puppy: Awwwww, shucks. And then we have latkes?
Me: Puppies do not get latkes
Puppy: WHAT? That doesn’t seem right
Me: Whether it seems right or not, puppies do not get latkes
Puppy: Donuts?
Me: Nope
Puppy: I think I object
Me: You might want to rethink that. I’m pretty sure puppies who object don’t get a treat after candles
Puppy: WHAT? What about my rights?
Me: You have the right to be adorable. And the right to behave.
Puppy: Oh. Well, when you put it that way, I’ll be a good boy.
Me: Excellent choice
Pi: Come here, sweetie. I’ll scratch you
Puppy: Oh boy! That’s almost as good as latkes!

Love, Mom

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Dear Kid,

Puppy: WHAT is going ON?
Me: It’s Thanksgiving.
Pi: Do you know what Thanksgiving is?
Puppy: It looks like cooking and football.
Me: That’s part of it.
Puppy: It smells like all of it.
Pi: You left out the parade.
Puppy: We’re going to be in a parade?
Pi: The parade is on TV, silly.
Puppy: I’m going to be on TV? That is fantastic!
Me: On Thanksgiving we get together with friends and family and we think about the things we’re thankful for.
Puppy: What are you thankful for?
Me: I’m thankful for friends, and family, and food. And coffee.
Puppy: I’m family, right?
Me: Of course you are.
Pi: Of course, you silly dog.
Puppy: Of course I am!
Kid: Yup.
Dad: Yup.
Puppy: Which means I get the same love everyone in the family gets, right?
Me: Yup.
Puppy: Which means I get the same delicious food everyone in the family gets, right?
Me: Wrong.
Puppy: What?
Me: Same love, yes. Same food, no.
Pi: Oh, Puppy. You get super special food.
Puppy: I do?
Me: Absolutely.
Puppy: Well, ok then.
Me: Happy Thanksgiving, baby.
Puppy: Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Mom

Who do you know who would enjoy Puppy Conversations? Share the DearKidLoveMom.com love
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Dear Kid,

The Annual Great Pumpkin Muffin Bake has begun.

This year, since someone (not mentioning any names, but it’s you) requested 100 muffins to take back to school, there will be More Than The Usual Amount of Baking.

Last night I made 137 muffins (at which point I ran out of ingredients). Then Pi came home and 30 seconds later there were 6 muffins left. That’s why there aren’t any photos. Because there aren’t any muffins to take pix of.

Not to worry. Dad bought more ingredients and there will be more baking this week—and Pi will be given a muffin quota.

She has expressed sadness at the muffin quota.

The Puppy has also expressed sadness at the muffin quota because his quota is zero. Partly because there aren’t any muffins left, but mostly because these pumpkin muffins have raisins which is a huge canine no-no. He suggested (quite clearly) that I was more than welcome to pick out the raisins for him or—better yet—make a batch without raisins.

When I fell down on the floor laughing he licked my chin once, then went to his pillow in a huff. Apparently a nap cures all ill feeling because he’s once again my BFF.

I’m quite sure that he’ll continue supervising during the next batch of baking.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

The Puppy has a new game. It’s called Barking At Bedtime.

Actually, it’s called Whining At Bedtime, but that has no alliterative appeal at all (see how I did that?).

I don’t know why he’s taken up whining, but he has.

If there were an Olympic sport for whining, he’d be the gold medalist.

Or possibly the world-famous coach everyone wants to work with.

The Puppy is an endurance whiner. His whine is soft and subtle but annoyingly persistent. It’s not something I’ve figured out how to turn off or ignore.

And it goes on at great length (and by “great length” I mean about 40 minutes, which seems longer than you can even begin to imagine because we’re talking about a high-pitched puppy whine).

Which makes it hard to watch reruns of NCIS and write blogs.

Which is why this is later than usual.

Love ya, kiddo.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

Puppy: I think I will be a cat today
Me: How does that work?
Puppy: I will jump on high things and stare at you
Me: You may stare as much as you like. But there will be no jumping on high things
Puppy: But I have to. I’m a cat!
Me: No jumping
Puppy: Meow

Puppy: I am a cat
Me: Okaaay
Puppy: Cats order people around
Me: They certainly try
Puppy: Bring me treats!
Me: Small problem
Puppy: Problem? What kind of problem? I can help, I’m a good boy. I mean, Fix It! And Bring Treats!
Me: We don’t have any cat treats
Puppy: That’s ok. I want puppy treats
Me: No, cats get cat treats and puppies get puppy treat
Puppy: But I like puppy treats
Me: I thought you were a cat?
Puppy: I may have to re-think this

Puppy: I am being a cat today
Me: Are you enjoying being a cat?
Puppy: So far, it feels like being a dog
Me: I can see where that might be confusing

Puppy: When is dinner?
Me: I don’t think you understand about cats
Puppy: What do you mean?
Me: Cats often don’t eat their dinner
Puppy: What?
Me: They decide not to eat.
Puppy: But, doesn’t their tummy tell them to eat? My tummy always tells me to eat
Me: It’s a cat thing
Puppy: Being a cat was a much better idea in my head

Puppy: Mom?
Me: Yes, sweetie?
Puppy: Do I have to wear a hat if I’m a cat?
Me: Do your cat friends wear hats?
Puppy: No, but what if they aren’t doing it right?
Me: I’m pretty sure the cats know how to be cats
Puppy: Without hats?
Me: I’m sure Dr. Seuss will be ok if you don’t wear a hat

Love, Mom

Who do you know who would enjoy Puppy Conversations? Share the DearKidLoveMom.com love
See more puppy conversations

• Puppy Conversations and Food Observations
• Spring Puppy Conversations
• New Puppy Conversations
• Winter WonderPuppy | Baby It’s Cold Outside
• Puppy Conversations Translated for the College Kid
• Puppy Conversations and FIFA World Cup Soccer
• Puppy Conversations and the Joy of Quirkiness
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• Puppy Conversations | What’s In a Name?
• Puppy Conversations | Puppy Plans a Party
• Puppy Speaks Foreign Languages…Sort Of
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Dear Kid,

Usually I talk to dogs. In my experience, dogs have a lot more words than cats.

But cats have a lot more attitude. Of the ‘tude variety.

I kind of admire them for their attitude.

Meet my friend the kitten.

When mom tells you to take a nap, and you pretend to, but you’re really watching tv…

I’m hiding. That means you can’t see me. Until I change my mind.

Mom’s a good cook. But supervision is important. And that’s my job.

Yes, I know I’m cute. Thank you for noticing.

Love, Mom