Making good on a promise

So forgive me if you are not a furry friend lover. Just scroll on down and enjoy my words instead. 

(And laugh and shake your head at me, cause I totally deserve it.)

Ever since my daughter has had words she has made known her request for a cuddly, furry, perfect kitten. I have wanted it for her because I know she is an animal lover and her collection of stuffed animals was not satisfying the need. (And I wasn't willing to compromise by getting a hamster because frankly I can't deal with the whole cleaning the cage thing.) The idea of having to take care of another living thing created anxiety in this introverted soul of mine. When her Grammy adopted a kitten over a year ago I thought that the itch might be scratched enough to curb the desire, but alas it only fueled it.

One night shortly before Christmas as my not-so-much-furry-creature-lovin'-husband plopped in bed he said, "I think we should get her a kitten." To which I replied, "Really?! You mean it?"

He wanted to do the whole scene out of a movie on Christmas morning, whipping it out of his coat pocket as he kneeled to present it to her. I, being the more realistic one, put a halt to that fantasy and told him we needed to get it after our trip to Disneyland. (You can't just bring a kitten home and then leave it for a week.) And it would buy us time. So instead I bought some kitten toys and wrapped them up and put them under the Christmas tree and the dream of a kitten was made future reality as the kids opened the gift that morning.

Fast forward...

Driving home from Disneyland somewhere on highway 5 my daughter asks, "Are we going to go to the kitten store on the way home and buy our kitten?" The hubby and I exchange glances and broke the news to her that kitten shopping would be done another day. Finding a "just right" kitten for our family would take time and patience, but we knew we needed to make good on our word.

As I sat on the porch during the break in the rain the neighborhood kitty scooted up and parked herself on the step next to me. While I scratched her ears and chin I had this feeling that I often have these days when holding a friend's new baby: this little one is so cute and soft and adorable but I don't want to take it home. It was that feeling a couple of years ago that affirmed my decision to stick with my two kids and close up the baby making shop. And here I am having this same feeling with the neighborhood kitty.

What have I done?

To add to this my brother sent me this video which only created more anxiety.

I am about to bring a furry, frisky, energizer ball of fuzz into my home and there is no going back!

If there ever was a time traveling machine I could use it right about now. I would go back to Christmas day and snag that present out from under the tree.

But then I would still see the longing in my daughter's heart. I have to remind myself that she is not asking for a pony or a car (yet), she is asking for a cat. I grew up with cats. I like cats. I can do this. I can make good on a promise.