That's Just Not Right
Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 03:00PM One of the things I love about Piper is how she regards our cat as another member of the family. Oreo is her friend, almost a brother really and she treats him the same way she would treat any other human friend or her other siblings.
It’s a beautiful thing when a small child is capable of such complete love towards an animal so I try to encourage this interaction. And there are times I am called in to mediate between these two as if they were actual siblings.
Mommy! I keep saying excuse me, but Oreo won’t move!
Honey, he’s a cat and doesn’t always understand. Just nudge him a little and he’ll move.
-I said NUDGE, not push! Now go apologize to him!
Sorry Oreo.
Usually, they get along just fine. They read together, play tea party together and always snuggle together. Lord knows the cat is patient as shit, and he always gives her plenty of his low growl warnings that he is reaching his threshold. But still, she continues to push, especially when she thinks I can’t see or hear them.
Shhhh, Oreo, stop that. I’m not hurting you. Shhhh. Mommy’s gonna hear you.
PIPER! I heard that! Let him go. Let. Him. Go.
Sorry Oreo.
No matter how she pushes him though, he rarely ever swats at her or nips at her. He will leave and walk away before resorting to such playground antics. But what he does do is lick. He is a licker. And I have told Piper over and over again, not to let the cat lick her. Not only do I skeeve, but this cat has the worst breath ever.
So the other day, she comes over to snuggle with me and I could smell a faint stink to her arm.
Piper, did you let the cat lick you? Did you let Oreo lick your arm?
No, why? Did he tell you that?
No, of course he didn’t tell me that. Now go wash your arms and hands. I told you not to let him lick you.
Sulking, she heads towards the kitchen. As she’s walking past Oreo, I hear her say, “Liar, Liar. Pants on fire!”
I could have let it go, but figured it was a good opportunity to teach her between right and wrong, so I jumped in.
PIPER! I heard that! Calling Oreo a liar is just not right.
I know, Mommy. Teasing is wrong.
Well yeah, that too. But more importantly, calling him a liar is not right because it’s inaccurate. Do you know what inaccurate means?
{shakes head}
It’s a different kind of wrong. The kind of wrong when you make a statement that is not a true reflection of our reality. You see, Oreo can’t lie because he can’t talk. Nor does he wear pants. He’s a cat. Do you understand?
Yes, mommy. I’m sorry, mommy.
Don’t apologize to me, say you’re sorry to Oreo.
Sorry Oreo.
Still, I wasn’t so sure she actually grasped what I was trying to explain. So, to help her understand, I taught what would have been a more accurate thing to say.
“Licker, Licker. Tongue on Flickr!”
Cause I’m all about what’s right.
Reader Comments (2)
my cat hates my boy.
and I'm loving the full feed!
We don't have any pets. Sometimes I regret that (when I'm not walking past the stinky pet food aisle at the grocery store that is - yuck), but I'd want to have a pet like Oreo. One I couild trust around my kids. OR to be "accurate" I would want to be able to trust my KIDS around the pet. Not likely right now....