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