Visit to the National Zoo in DC

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Pets, pets, pets help kids grow

I could not imagine having kids without having pets. Pets help my kids get an immediate sense of love without the use of words. It's uncomplicated, immediate and simple love; and on the spot. We have 2 sibling cats and a female African Grey parrot named Nugget who talks beeps, laughs, burps and farts nonstop. Obviously, our parrot is not 'cuddly' but she is absolutely a part of our family in every way. She provides an essential comic relief at times when we might be scolding one child, the parrot would barge in with the same exact words we are saying. But the fact that a parrot is saying them allows everyone to take a brief moment to laugh and lighten up the mood.

Animals and their Role in our Lives

I grew up without many animals. We had maybe one dog for a few years but that is about it. After college I was in a relationship with an avid animal lover and I began to see and feel the benefits of being a pet owner.

In our family now we just adopted 2 kittens and our kids could not be happier when they see them, hold them, play with them. It has been somewhat an uphill battle teaching the kids to be respectful of the cats as living beings, yet slowly, they are learning to be more compassionate and getting to see that the benefits come when they put out gentleness.