Reason #2: Animals are non-judgemental.

We just returned from a wonderful program offered by our public library called Read To Rover.  It gives kids in grades Kindergarten through 5th  an opportunity to practice their reading skills with a therapy dog.  I found it very interesting that when I asked my daughters if they wanted to practice their reading with a dog, they sprinted past me, book in hand, already zipping up their coats.  It dawned on me that while I sit there and often repeat: "sound it out", "group the letters", "you know that word", "what's the root word", and annoyingly so-on and so-on, an animal just listens.  Of course, I know an animal won't give feedback!  But, for a child, there is a calm, supportive presence of an animal who loves your attention and company, no matter what you are doing. 

Reason #1: Animals can sometimes comfort like nothing or no one else.

I was looking through photographs and as soon as I saw this one, I knew I had to post it as #1.  I'm trying to start off with happy and loving posts, Valentine's Day is right around the corner, ya' know!   It was a couple of years ago, and my 4 year old (at the time) was helping me at dinnertime by bringing the plates from the table to the sink.  She dropped the heavy and sturdy ceramic plate right on her second toe.  Yep, it hurt like heck!  She howled and screamed it seemed for hours and nobody could console her.  My calm and rational husband couldn't do it, her older sister tried jokes and distractions and I was only making it worse by demanding that she put a freezing cold ice pack on her now swollen teeny tiny toe.  I finally got her to lay down on the sofa and elevate her foot with said ice pack.  While she was calming down, we went outside to get some air and exhale.  When I came back in, seconds later, I saw this encounter and HAD to take a picture of it!  My daughter had fallen asleep (passed out from the pain, I am sure) and our dog Wrigley was sitting next to her reaching a paw out to her hand.  I kid you not, we couldn't believe it!  So, when no person could make it better, a four-legged friend did.

Reasons

I must begin this blog by saying that the reasons "Why I like Animals More than People...at times" are going to be numbered.  That seems like the right thing to do.  I am a teacher at heart and things must be numbered, right?  In no way, shape or form does that mean Reason 1 is more important or more meaningful than Reason # 3, #5 and so on.  Some of the blogs will be of situations that occurred in the past, but I am just now remembering because of that thing called "memory loss" when you reach...(ahem 37) or maybe I blocked it out since it was challenging to actually process the crazy encounter with that person.  For me, animals are just sometimes easier to deal with and carry with them....No Drama....which I LOVE! 
Hope you enjoy the blogs!