Davina HerbertWhat is parenting? What does it mean to be a parent? The Cambridge English Dictionary defines parent as “a mother or father of a person or an animal, or someone who looks after a person in the same way that a parent does”. (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/parent)
Here in Australia, we celebrate Mother’s Day in May. Traditionally when we think of mother’s day we have only thought of woman who have human children. In the past, if someone did not have human children, they were not recognised as a parent. Yet times are changing. There are increasing numbers of the population whose children have paws and hooves instead of feet. In my experience – both personally and that of family, friends and clients – I am seeing our animal companions moving into new roles in our lives and becoming valued and valuable members of our family. My own blended family is composed of step children, grandchildren and a large number of furry and feathered children.
My youngest fur child, Chevelle recently turned two. She has been part of the family since July last year. Just like human children, our fur kids also go through ages and stages in their lives. Now that Chevelle is two, I can see changes in her. She is in that teenage mode and very vocal. I would say that she is the most vocal of my little fur kids. She is trying to work out where she fits in the family now that she is getting more mature. She has two ageing fur siblings (De Brucski and Layla Lou) and another sibling who is around her age (Daisy Mae). When she gets too energetic with the oldest kids, they just put her in her place. It is different with Daisy as the two of them play together and let off steam. Having said that, I also see Daisy and Chevelle working out how they fit together now that they are both teenagers.
What is my role in all this? As a pet parent, I see my role as being a loving and nurturing leader – one to whom the rest of the pack look up to. Do I always achieve this? I would say that I get it right more times than I get it wrong. However it is not always easy to be the loving, nurturing leader that I aspire to be. I am human and have moments when I am tired and stressed out. In those moments, I fall short of my own ideas. The important thing as I see it is not to focus on my failures, but to use them to help me to be the best fur parent that I can be. Are the demands of parenting any less because your kids aren’t human and can’t talk back in English? I would say no, but they can be different and have unique challenges.
I work with pet parents and their fur kids when they are experiencing relationship issues to help them have the loving and nurturing relationship to which they aspire. I use my tools of animal communication, healing modalities and life experience to help pet parents. Every kid (fur or not) is unique and expresses themselves different. If you are struggling with parenting issues, a Pet Energy Therapy session can help. I help you to develop your own personalised plan for dealing with your fur child in a way that is joyful and respectful for both of you.
To book a session, use the link below.
Davina helps you to develop better relationships with your fur babies.
Christine Sanson Maudy
Ann Moir-Bussy
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