My Beliefs - DWC Day 18

Today's blog is a little more difficult to write because there are so many areas of our lives that one can have beliefs about. I've told you my beliefs about religion, suicide, and music. I have an upcoming blog about education.  So I'll stay away from those subjects...  I believe in refrigerators, running water, and air conditioning.  I believe that most people are not beautiful outside, therefore we have clothes to cover some of it up.  I believe that somewhere out there must be life on another planet.  I believe that pollution will be the death of the Earth.  I believe that if I had to hunt for my own food that I would be a vegetarian.  I believe that everyone should have to have counseling throughout high school so that they can start their adult lives with a clean slate.  So many little beliefs.  Here are three things that I believe in strongly:

Pets – Pets are your children that never grow up and move out.

Pets are a commitment. I often see people get a pet because it's small, cute, and fluffy and then it behaves like an animal and pees on the carpet or grows a little and out it goes into the cold where the coyotes can eat it. My friends get frustrated with me because we need to find a new home, but most places won't rent to someone with pets and we have two big dogs. My friends think that I should just get rid of the dogs and move on without them. Aside from the fact that I've had these dogs for a really long time and now they are senior citizens, I believe in my heart that they are part of our family. I wouldn't just send my grandson to some farm or release him to the cruel streets or have him put down because he was too expensive or we couldn't find somewhere to live because of him. So how could I do that to my dogs or cats. Like our children, pets are a commitment, not just in money or the time one spends with them, but also for their lifetime.

Children – Choose your children as a priority or give them to someone who will.

Despite bumper stickers that say “It's not a choice, it's a child.” I believe that having and raising children is a choice. If you aren't ready and willing to have and responsibly raise your children, then don't have them. I'm not talking about financial responsibility, there are lots of lovely people that I know that were raised in poverty but are still wonderful people that the world would be a sadder place without. If you accidentally get pregnant, decide...are you going to become responsible or give your child to someone who does want the responsibility or do something else. (I'm not going to give my opinions for or against abortion today.) Too many people have children because...well, pregnancy happens...and then they do little or nothing to help make their child's life better or to show their child how this world works. If you choose to have a child (or more than one) then it is your responsibility to protect them from violence and abuse and to teach them cleanliness, manners, respect for themselves and others, integrity, and how to find answers. These are the things necessary to function intelligently in society. No they aren't all easily taught. They are best taught through your good example and reinforcement of their good behavior. And the hardest work is in the early years, because personality is fully formed by age 5.

My 10 Priorities As A Mother

Relationships – The grass isn't always greener.

A relationship is going to be difficult no matter who it's with. Unless the relationship is abusive or destructive, we all should commit to the relationship that we have and keep going. There are always going to be those difficult relatives or money problems or differences of opinion. There are always going to be weird behaviors or habits. There will always be something that you or the other person is insecure about. Leaving the relationship might eliminate one set of problems, but then you get in a new relationship and there are just as many similar issues. As long as you both care for each other, then you might as well keep trying and keep working things out with the one that you're with.