When your dog is your baby: post mothers day blues

I can be overly sensitive, even when I know it's not rational...which happened yesterday during our Mothers Day celebration.

DH and I had a lovely gathering for our moms for cake. Joining us were our close friends who have a six-month-old baby.

I realize that dogs are not children, but since we don't have children, I tend to think of our dogs as 'my babies'. However the "real baby's" mom comes from a culture where dogs are not considered pets. She struggles with the idea of dogs living in the house. I don't really understand her perspective, but when she is over, I do try to keep the dogs away from her, or offer to lock the dogs in their kennel.

For the most part, the visit went well, but at one point, my puppy walked over to where she was sitting and licked the top of the baby's hand. Baby's mom looked horrified. She jumped up and went to the kitchen sink and scrubbed...and scrubbed...and scrubbed. She was clearly disgusted.

Now I'm no fan of dogs licking. I don't encourage it at all. But somehow in that moment, my heart felt broken.

I already feel badly that we don't have a baby of our own, and likely never will. I feel guilty that we've only given our moms grand-dogs. But to have my dogs regarded as filthy creatures by my friend who is lucky enough to have a child just hurt.

Yes, I know I'm in the wrong.

I realize that my friend is entitled to feel however she wants about dogs.

I realize that as a new mother she is naturally protective of her baby and doesn't want him exposed to germs.

But my feels are hurt.

I should just get over it, and I suppose I will, but tonight I feel sad that our little family isn't a "real" family...even if we sign our mothers day cards with love from both of us and the 'fur-kids'.