A granddaughter was born, and yet my daughter-in-law doesn’t want my dog! What should I do? I’m not sure how to handle this…
I’ve decided to write here because I hope many will understand me. Perhaps someone might even offer advice — am I right, or am I deluding myself?
I have two sons – Robert and Mark. Both have been living in England for quite some time, albeit in different cities. Robert already has a family and a little daughter, whereas Mark hasn’t yet found the right one.
When my boys were quite young, our family broke apart – their mother and I divorced. It was a tough time. The house felt empty, the kids missed their mother, and I, torn between work and caring for them, felt overwhelmingly lonely.
Back then, to fill the void and guard the house, I got a dog – a magnificent, intelligent, and loyal German Shepherd named Tara. We lived in a detached house with a garden and a yard, providing her with plenty of space.
Tara became more than just a pet; she became part of the family. I traveled often, and when I was away, she became the true guardian of the home, watching over it and taking care of the children. My sons adored her. I even felt that without her, raising them would’ve been significantly more challenging.
Years passed. The boys grew up, while Tara grew old. When she was no more, I grieved as though I had lost a dear family member. I promised myself I would never own another dog – it was just too painful parting with them…
But the boys grew up and moved away, leaving me alone in a big, empty house. The silence amplified the loneliness. One day, I realized I couldn’t live without a companion.
So I got Max. A small, intelligent, affectionate dog – a true buddy. I would joke that there was finally another man in the house, even if he was four-legged.
I knew I’d be visiting my sons in England frequently, so I chose a dog suitable for travel. We’ve been abroad together five times already! I always follow the rules: book tickets in advance, pay for luggage, put him on a light diet before the flight to ensure he stays under the 8 kg limit, and give him motion sickness tablets… Sometimes it seems traveling with a dog is harder than with a child!
But to me, he’s like a child. The only one who greets me when I come home, who delights in my return, and warms me with his presence.
But then the unexpected happened.
Robert had a daughter. My first granddaughter! I was thrilled, eager to stay with them, help out, go for walks with the little one, be there. But then I found out my daughter-in-law was strongly against Max.
At first, she claimed she feared the child would have allergies. Then she worried the dog would bring dirt into the house. And then she got a cat, seemingly to remove any argument I had.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It tore at my heart.
Both sons – Robert and Mark – began persuading me to leave Max in a pet hotel for a while. They even offered to cover the costs, just so I could stay with them longer.
— Dad, leave the dog! It’s just a pet, but we are your children, and she is your granddaughter! How can that even compare? – Mark urged me.
And yet, I couldn’t.
How do I explain to them that Max isn’t just a dog? He’s my solace in loneliness. My friend. He sleeps at my feet, listens when I’m troubled. He senses when I’m down and simply lies beside me, warming with silent companionship.
I couldn’t just leave him in a hotel, surrounded by strangers.
— If you want to see me, you must accept my dog too! – I responded firmly.
The sons just exchanged glances. They didn’t understand. To them, a dog is just a dog. To me, he is the essence of life.
I’m unsure what the future holds. They keep insisting, and I keep refusing.
But there’s one thing I know for sure: as long as Max is alive, I won’t betray him. He was there for me when no one else could be.
I won’t leave him. Even if it means seeing my granddaughter far less often than I had hoped.
