Tuesday, 7 October 2008 05:21 pm
A debate with myself
Deckard A: Kieran can’t stay here. He keeps clashing with me.
Deckard B: It just takes time, as with all cats. I’ve gotten better at knowing how to deal with him, and I’ll keep doing so the longer we stick together.
A: But I’m still short on patience with him. Yesterday I lost it and kicked him.
B: Which I surely won’t do again. I hate to see him hurt.
A: That’s part of the problem. I have trouble bringing myself to discipline him properly with shouts and sprays, and then when the problems build up, I explode.
B: I can do this. I’m just a slow adapter like Kieran. It’ll get easier with experience.
A: Kieran longs for the outdoors. Since he’s not supposed to get it, the least he could get is a wider space and owners with more time to socialize with him.
B: He’ll learn what he can’t get and then get used to it.
A: But is it all worth the trouble?
B: I love Kieran and he loves me. I’ll miss the soft snuggling and laser chases.
A: Or will I? I find myself getting tired of even the positive aspects of life with him. It’s the same old petting and mollycoddling, largely just to pacify him.
B: I see it as practice for fatherhood.
A: Fatherhood is unlikely for me. My chance of even getting a girlfriend before I’m old or dead seems 50% at most. If I do become a father, there’s a fair chance it’ll be by adoption, and not necessarily of a very young child. Even if I started taking care of a baby every day this year, at least I’d know that he might go on to be more advanced than a well-behaved cat.
B: Then I see it as practicing my faith. I’ll stick with him just to be nice to him, to exercise my good side, and to demonstrate the kind of devotion one should have in sacred relationships like parenthood and marriage.
A: I could take care of an older, more relaxed cat. They need time to adjust, too, but usually take better to small living spaces and relatively aloof owners.
B: They tend to have more expensive medical bills.
A: I consider that a small price for the difference. Besides, Kieran is bound to be happier somewhere else. He deserves better than what I have to offer.
B: If I do return Kieran, I hope I don’t end up making things just as they were before and not get another cat. And if I get another cat, I hope I don’t end up returning that one within two weeks as well.
Deckard B: It just takes time, as with all cats. I’ve gotten better at knowing how to deal with him, and I’ll keep doing so the longer we stick together.
A: But I’m still short on patience with him. Yesterday I lost it and kicked him.
B: Which I surely won’t do again. I hate to see him hurt.
A: That’s part of the problem. I have trouble bringing myself to discipline him properly with shouts and sprays, and then when the problems build up, I explode.
B: I can do this. I’m just a slow adapter like Kieran. It’ll get easier with experience.
A: Kieran longs for the outdoors. Since he’s not supposed to get it, the least he could get is a wider space and owners with more time to socialize with him.
B: He’ll learn what he can’t get and then get used to it.
A: But is it all worth the trouble?
B: I love Kieran and he loves me. I’ll miss the soft snuggling and laser chases.
A: Or will I? I find myself getting tired of even the positive aspects of life with him. It’s the same old petting and mollycoddling, largely just to pacify him.
B: I see it as practice for fatherhood.
A: Fatherhood is unlikely for me. My chance of even getting a girlfriend before I’m old or dead seems 50% at most. If I do become a father, there’s a fair chance it’ll be by adoption, and not necessarily of a very young child. Even if I started taking care of a baby every day this year, at least I’d know that he might go on to be more advanced than a well-behaved cat.
B: Then I see it as practicing my faith. I’ll stick with him just to be nice to him, to exercise my good side, and to demonstrate the kind of devotion one should have in sacred relationships like parenthood and marriage.
A: I could take care of an older, more relaxed cat. They need time to adjust, too, but usually take better to small living spaces and relatively aloof owners.
B: They tend to have more expensive medical bills.
A: I consider that a small price for the difference. Besides, Kieran is bound to be happier somewhere else. He deserves better than what I have to offer.
B: If I do return Kieran, I hope I don’t end up making things just as they were before and not get another cat. And if I get another cat, I hope I don’t end up returning that one within two weeks as well.
no subject
I loved my first cat as a kid dearly, and I could share the responsibilities with my three siblings, so I didn't feel overly pestered. Grown up, I'm not sure there would be as much happiness.
If you do decide to give him up, try to see that he gets a good home elsewhere.
no subject
Your earlier post about his habits sot of reminded me of Taffy (different specifics though), makes me wonder whether to say, "hang on, it'll get better" or "run while you can!!" ;D
At least either way it sounds like you have his best interests in mind.
One thought
-Proverbs 12:10