Back to school on Thursday for me, but theoretically I'm dealing with 100+ dogs, But some of them are puppies and some of them are terriors! (I think I spelt that the right way around, but you cannot always be too certain )

Lorchen wrote:
Monday for me but we only have 600+. Certainly makes the days unpredictable and fun though!

Ahhh, thank you Ladies! I'm all flustered now and blushing.

NanaPie wrote:
I know what you mean! She's a delight!

Thanks, Margo. Do you know I've never noticed that button? I think I was laughing too hard at Lorchen's response when I typed my reply. Beverly

NanaPie wrote:

NanaPie, you can always go back and edit your comments by just clicking on the "EDIT" button just to the left of your profile photo!

That would be "laugh out loud"!!

Lorchen, you are a delight to me- you just make me laught out loud! I wish you lived right next door to me!!!! Beverly

Well, on Thursday it's back to school for me, and 1600+ cats....... Should be fun!

certainly describes me - and all the teens i've ever known - to a tee

Isn't it amazing how that "unknown author" knows so much about a lot of things. I love it! Thank you, Rosemary.

Oh Rosemary! How true, how true!

My Mother once came across a reference to 'Teenage Werewolves' and the idea has stuck in our family - I was one once and I sometimes wonder if I still am?

I came across this some time ago on the web and decided to keep a copy it is very descriptive, and lets me know the 'joys' I have to look forward to. (up to 9yrs old (nearly10) & counting down to teenage werewolf )

"author unknown"

"I just realized that while children are dogs -- loyal and affectionate -- teenagers are cats. It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, boss it around. It puts its head on your knees and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it.
Then around age 13 your adorable little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your footsteps, it disappears.
You won't see it again until it gets hungry -- then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen to turn up its nose up at whatever you're serving. When you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare as if trying to remember where it has seen you before.
You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort of depressed. It won't go on family outings. Since you're the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you assume that you did something wrong.
Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave.
Only now you're dealing with a cat, so everything that worked before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps the counter. The more you go toward it wringing your hands, the more it moves away.

Instead of continuing to act like a dog owner, you have to learn to behave like a cat owner. Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. But remember that a cat needs your help and affection too. Sit still and it will come, seeking the warm, comfortable lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it. One day, your grown up child will walk into the kitchen, give you a big kiss and say, "You've been on your feet all day. Let me get those dishes for you.”

"Then you will realize your cat is a dog again."

As a mother, and now a grandmother, I can tell you that the teenage years are really a challenge. But the wonderful news is that when they get past those years, and you gradually become wiser again in their eyes, they return to being the most precious part of your life. And THEN they give you grandchildren to give you such joy!!