To think you don't love your pets half as much once you have kids

[ishouldtryabitmoreachday]

We have a dog. We had him a couple of years before I had a baby. We'd had a previous dog together and my parents had a dog when I was in my teens. But I just don't love my dog like I did before I had kids.

My dog is looked after, he's walked twice a day, groomed and wormed, flea stuff and is part of the family. He goes most places with us, but I just don't have that love I had before I had kids. It's hard to explain, is it just me .. AIBU?

We were about to adopt a dog and then I found out I was pregnant. I'm so grateful that our friend decided to keep him as the thought of refereeing boisterous toddler DS and a dog, plus walking them both in all weather, and sorting out grooming, vaccinations and food for a fourth household member, makes me want to lie down. I can totally understand a change in feelings - it took me about a year to have much headspace beyond DS because he was a crap sleeper and I was a bit of a zombie.

YANBU

I find my cats much more irritating now I have a baby. It's not their fault - just indicative of how my focus and priorities have changed after having DC.

Would i rescued kids before my dog...of course yes I would. But I still love my dog very much she brings me joy and cuddles everyday. A little bit of sanity in my day as she is so gentle natured u like my kids who can totally stress me.out daily 😬

Pets are not your own offspring, but they seem to need more care and attention. Sorry I don't understand that. But I am sure I will be put to rights.

I still love my cats the same. Obviously love my children more but my cats still give me that warm fuzzy feeling that pets do. I love at end of the day when they come cuddle in when its more peaceful.

I love my son and my dogs equally as they are my family

That's deeply disturbing.
So burning building and you couldn't choose who to save?

Yup dog people without kids often think they love the animal as much and are totally unreasonable. I had a woman tell me the other day a dog biting another dog on a local beach was ‘just as bad’ as of it had bitten a child. Basically you grew up and realised they aren’t fur babies after all.

I love my cats to pieces. I love children too. Sometimes child can really annoy me but cats just love me all the time.

Funny old place is Mumsnet. If OP had posted saying that she prefers one child over another there would be sympathy galore. Dare to say she loves her own baby more than a dog, she's obviously an animal hating psycho.

I agree too and anecdotally can think of a few people who I've seen it happen too.

Some of the early posters are hilariously nutty 😂 the dog can’t read Mumsnet you know!!

I think a lot of people probably feel that way. It is a bit sad though, made me think of the film Lady and the tramp(watched it with dd rcently) where Lady feels pushed out when the family have a baby.

@Toilenstripes

What an awful post. Even if you don’t love your dog as much, why would you announce it?

I know this wasn't your intention, but your post made me chuckle picturing the ops pets scrolling on MN, coming across this thread and then the terrible truth slowly dawning on them that the thread is indeed about them.

This is a strange post wtf? Love for your kids and love for a pet ate two different things.

The love you feel for an actual human child that you pushed out of your body is completely different to the love that you feel for an animal, and rightly so. Some of the responses on this thread are ridiculous.

YANBU OP.

People get so weird about dogs in particular. If you’d posted “I don’t love my hamster as much now I’ve had a baby” that would fine but because it’s a dog you’re an evil woman who doesn’t deserve a pet. Madness!

I mean... my dog just loves me unconditionally and looks at me with big brown eyes... he doesn't talk back or throw tantrums or refuse to eat vegetables or shout and scream and generally just never shut up.

I'm not saying I love my dog more than my kid but... he's a lot less annoying

This post reminds me of an earlier one today where the OP wanted to know why people on MN “are so vile”.....because of you, OP, because of you.

The most OTT post of the month I think! I am embarrassed for you.

This thread is nuts.

I love my dog but she’s more like a friend and companion. My DC are children; the dog is an adult IYSWIM? I wouldn’t dream of letting DC sit in the bathroom to comfort me while I puke with food poisoning at 2am but my dog will do that without a second thought. The dog accompanies me during my child free time and we can relax together. I don’t restrict my tv viewing choices because the dog is present. She makes no demands on me. She’s not my child - she’s my best friend. Our relationship hasn’t changed since DC arrived because they don’t occupy the same space in my life. My only regret is that I have less time to give her my attention.

The nutty dog owners are out in force lol. Of course yanbu

What’s the point of this post. What are you trying to prove?

I don't relate to this I'm afraid. I think since we had DD I have loved my cats more. I love the way they interact with her, how they watched over her when she was tiny and how they play together now. She is very gentle with other children and I think some of that is learned from having to be gentle with the cats, who are very placid and friendly anyway.

I think some of this comes from being fron a pet family. I was the same with dogs and cats growing up, they were loved by my parents, and my dad and grandma still talk fondly of their childhood pets who were part of the family.

Ffs! Posted by accident. Should have read:

Bloody hell, some people on here are bonkers.

I felt the same. After having dd I felt touched out. I didn't want a cat on me just after I'd got dd to go to sleep... but we kept the cats, looked after them, loved them as we had.

I think this is normal, op. Don't be put off by what you read here. You are still looking after your dog. They will be fine.

I’ve always thought a lot of dog owners were insane - turns out I was right after all. YANBU