Kidding Around with Cherie K. Miller

I’m that unique suburban invention. I’m a mom and by default, I became a pet-mommy. When I was pregnant with my first son, Steven, I devoured all of the pregnancy, new mom books. Not one of them, not even my mother, shared the dirty little secret that when you become a mom to a boy, you eventually become a pet-mommy. And it’s usually the most disgusting set of creatures a boy can find. It starts out small, maybe a worm or a bug he’s discovered in the sand box that you find a temporary home for in a Ball jar with holes punched into the lid.

Then my little mister grew and his desires for pets grew, too – hamsters, gerbils, and eventually a cat. Then a couple of kids later I had a couple of dogs. And a snake. Then came the geckos. The parakeet didn’t last more than a couple of hours. It’s rough to be a pet in a multiple boy home. We tried out the mice (YUK!) and the bunnies (nice and quiet, a personal favorite).

Oh, and I forgot to mention the fish tank phase of pet ownership. Mother, if you’re at the pet store and that little tank of cute fish start calling your name – just back away. I’m telling you, no one WANTS to clean a fish tank every week. Especially not me.

I now live in a neighborhood bordering Allatoona Lake in a blended family that includes seven sons, two dogs, Maggie and Lucille (both rescues), a 17-year-old grouchy cat and two leopard geckos that just laid an egg. So our pet population is going to grow exponentially, I just don’t know when.

Meet me back here at the Kennesaw Patch to learn more about the intersection of mommyhood and pet ownership. I’ll also highlight pet events and things to know about whatever kind of pet happens to become a member of your Home Herd (that’s how I refer to my family – anything over three is a herd in my opinion).

Bio:

Cherie K. Miller has written three books and writes a blog for reluctant pet owners like herself, called Pet Peeves (www.pet-peeves.org).  She spends most of her time hanging out at Kennesaw State University, first as a student, obtaining a Masters in Professional Writing (2007) and then working in the new Masters of American Studies Program.