A Cat Mom's Love on Mother's Day- And a Selfie for Sunday | Lola The Rescued Cat
Sunday, May 8, 2016

A Cat Mom's Love on Mother's Day- And a Selfie for Sunday

I have been very remiss in keeping my blog up to date lately, and I have to say Lola and Lexy aren't very happy about being out of touch with their friends.  Admittedly, I had no post prepared for today and had planned on posting a photo for Selfie Sunday with a few brief sentences to go along with it.  But as I began to get my photo ready thoughts started to flow through my head and the post started to take a different direction. 

The term "unconditional love" was in the forefront of my thoughts as I started to type. The researcher in me immediately looked up the terms agape (ah-guh-pay) and altruism, and the psychologist in me immediately thought of Carl Rogers's theory of Unconditional Positive Regard (accepting and respecting others as they are without judgment or evaluation.) But this blog is about my cats and me, so I should just speak from my heart without worrying about citing my work. 

As a 50-ish woman with no children I could very easily feel as if there was something missing from my life. (I find it interesting, though, that in graduate school I did a paper on women who were childless.) But as I sit here on the sofa typing this, I look to my left at Lola in her usual place on the arm of the sofa just being happy to be near me. I look to my right and see Lexy sitting on top of the recliner watching me, and I get a blink. And as other cat moms can only understand, I remember that I love Lola and Lexy as if I would love my own children.  Some people may think that to be a strange thing, but so what? 






I worry about their well-being, their happiness, their emotional growth. I ensure they have proper nutrition, toys they love, and a safe living environment. I think about their meals if I'm going to be gone for a long day. I'm concerned about their health and take them for annual check ups or rush them to the vet when I think something isn't right. And when I go away I only employ the best pet sitters who understand that I worry about them, and text me a photo of them every day. The only thing I don't do that moms to two-legged kids do is call them to check up on them, but I if I could train them to answer a phone I probably would! 

Lola and Lexy are my children. They not only bring joy into my life, but they bring comfort, peace, companionship, laughter, and a million other things that I can't find the words for. They make my house a home and make my home a haven. At the end of a bad day I can't wait to get home to be in their presence because I know I'll immediately feel better. 

They love me as much as I love them and our love for each other is without limitations or conditions.  I understand that Lola must be next to me or on me at all times and is not happy unless she can lick my face. I'm sure she appreciates that I often sleep on the edge of a queen sized bed so all eight pounds of her can stretch out and be comfortable, or that I'll sleep in one position most of the night because she is on top of me.  I understand that Lexy does not like cuddles or hugs, and I know she appreciates when I meet her on her level and pet and show her love in the way she chooses. (Those moments when I get kisses from her are the best!) My girls never care if my hair is a mess, if my outfit isn't just right, or if I've gained weight.They don't care if I've made poor decisions for myself or if I've spent unnecessary money on a designer bag. At the end of the day we love each other and we are a happy family. 

And now for our Mother's Day selfie! 




I wasn't able to get one with Lexy, but that's OK, I respect her choice not to get a kiss on the head from me. 

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers of two and four-legged children. May your day be blessed with happiness and new memories to last a life time. 

Dawn

Photo Credit:  Creative Commons by MissLunaRose

Would you like to comment?

  1. What a beautiful and heartfelt post! I love it. Happy Mother’s Day and I send love to Lola & Lexy!

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  2. Thank you for putting my sentiments into words :) Happy Mother's day from one pet mom to another!
    Marty and the Gang's Mom

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  3. Happy Mothers Day from all of us and we hope you have a very special day with your sweeties!

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  4. This is such a beautiful post. I totally get it. I'm childless and I've never really wanted children, but Athena is my child. You describe in your post exactly what I feel for her and she for me.

    Happy Mother's Day!

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

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  5. Nailed it! My three cats (and dog) are my children. I've heard that some women prefer child-free vs. childless, as childless infers that something is missing from their life, which of course may be true for some. But for me, at least at this time in my life, I am child-free -- but not really since I have my furry children! :-) Happy Mother's Day!

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  6. I think your post is purr-fect! Much love to you and yours from Deb and all of her Zee/Zoey cats that unconditionally sit either at her side, or in her heart, each and every day.

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  7. We should take love as we find it, but not reject others for not loving as we do. Have a Lovely Sunday, and that is a lovely selfie! purrs ERin

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  8. What a cute selfie! And you are so right...to love a pet like a child...there's nothing strange about that at all. Happy Mother's Day. ~Island Cat Mom

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  9. What a beautiful post ! You're right, moms can have two or four-legged children. Happy Mother's Day ! Purrs

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  10. Excellent post! I feel the same way about my kitties, I don't think I would love a human child more than I love my furbabies. Happy Mother's Day! Very cute selfie XO

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  11. What a beautiful post. And so true. I'll be 40 next year and never had any maternal instinct for human children...but my cats have always been a different story. My parents always knew their grandchildren would have fur and four legs and they're fine with that.

    Happy Mother's Day!!!

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  12. That is exactly how I feel! Happy Mother's Day, Dawn!
    Jenny

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  13. This was a beautiful post! I had always said that if I died never having had children I would be miserable. Well, guess what? I am 60 and childless. I have two grown step kids but they were LONG grown by the time I arrived. I get the same from my pets as you do and what you left out is that being a Mom to pets is FAR LESS aggravating than having to parent HUMAN children. Much more rewarding a good portion of the time too!! Happy Mother's Day! catchatwithcarenandcody

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  14. A totally awesome and wonderful post. We feel the same way here ours are spoiled as much as any loved child should be.

    Happy Furry Mothers Day

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  15. A cat can be just as satisfying as children

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  16. Happy Mother's Day! We are Mom's only children too.
    The Florida Furkids

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  17. Very sweet! Hope you and the cats enjoyed today together. They are both adorable furkids!

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  18. Dawn, what a lovely and special post and fantastic photos. Thanks for sharing this with us. We hope you had a blessed day sharing love with your fur babies. Happy Mother's Day. Thanks for hopping. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  19. This is so sweet. Beautiful post.

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  20. So, so true! Happy Mother's Day to you, and all moms and nurturers everywhere!

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  21. Happy Mother's Day to you! You are a great kitty mom, and we are sure your girls love and appreciate you very much. <3

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  22. Nothing strange about peeps loving kitties like they're their own children 'cause we kitties are family and loving is what mums (and moms) do.

    Purrs,
    Seville

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  23. Happy Mother's Day! All my children have four paws...and they fill my heart with love and joy every single day :)

    the critters in the cottage xo

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  24. That's really beautiful. I'm so glad you sat down to write today.

    Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie

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