Some of you are really OTT and miserable. Using words like sinister, repulsive, pathetic, vomit, bitter, disrespectful to the animals, dehumanising children??
The ‘traditional’ family set up had changed a long time ago and will continue to change. If people think and treat their pets as family so what, it has nothing to do with you. Go find a hobby if you have nothing better to do than stress about something so trivial.
My daughter and husband desperately wanted a cat, I wasn’t bothered so I said go for it. He is very affectionate towards them but I’m clearly his ‘person’. He has honestly turned me to mush. I love my child unconditionally and I hope she will always love me unconditionally but if you really think about it there are a little bits of ‘conditions’ there. I carried her, birthed her, she’s a part of me. She HAS to love me. Whereas this creature, this different species who will forever have the brain of a toddler has chosen to love and trust me.
My daughter is at the age where her hormones are taking over and she hasn’t been exactly delightful recently! After a shouting, door banging session the cat will run over to me. If I’m sitting down he’ll climb on my lap, sometimes will stand and put his paws on my shoulder like he’s giving me a hug to calm me down. I found it so shocking the first time he did it like he was saying never mind that monster I’m here for you 😂It was lovely and I felt this rush of love.
Husband & daughter say they’re father & sister I don’t refer or think of myself as his mum. I’m his guardian, his protector and he is part of my family.