A Conversation About Babies

[poliphilo]

"Now there are real babies around," says Ailz. "I can see that my pets are simply baby substitutes."

"That's a woman thing," I say. "Women must have something in their brains that makes them respond to small helpless creatures. I know I don't have it."

"The need to have something totally dependent on you," she says.

"For me," I say, "babies are just potential human beings. I value them for what they're going to become. The sooner they're out of the drooling, up-chucking, helpless stage the better."

"I suspect the babies feel that way too," says Ailz.

Comments

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Babies (and later older kids) are such high maintenance that it sometimes takes a huge effort to enjoy them. The newborn is not referred to as "the little stranger" for nothing.
Cats, on the other hand, are natural loners who do not really need me for anything other than to fill the food and water dishes and empty the litter box. They are very low maintenance. They also show genuine affection, and bond well usually with a single member of the family, while they either ignore or act in an offhandedly friendly manner to the other people. Unlike dogs, cats NEVER try to be human. They are smart enough to know that they will get fed without doing tricks. They don't make much noise, either.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've had cats in the past. We once had seven. All at once. The deal breaker for me was the way they killed birds. I like birds. I like birds a whole lot better than cats.