Maximus

It was roughly 4:00 am mid December in 2017 when my husband decided it was a good idea to abruptly wake me from my peaceful slumber. Why did he wake me from my peaceful slumber you ask??? Well of course it was to get permission to purchase this adorable puppy he had seen advertised on-line. Keep in mind my husband works out of town Monday to Friday and I am a working mother with three children. A puppy!! How much additional work could it possibly be??? insert eye rolls and OMG's. We had this tiny little gray pup delivered to our home and I of course instantly fell in love with this tiny being. We as a family named him Maximus and to most, he is known as Max. Having a young pup as most seasoned dog owners know, is the equivalent of taking care of a newborn child. Eat, poop and sleep. I being the person that I am stepped up and gracefully accepted this challenge. Now by gracefully I mean I drank an insane amount of coffee, fell asleep next to the dog bed multiple times during nightly puppy duty and with minor hiccups, mastered the art of puppy potty training. Max began to physically grow and with that came the growth of his gigantic personality. He is extremely social, excessively affectionate, sensitive, goofy and above all his love knows no bounds. As a parent I have love for my children that goes beyond any form of comprehension or explanation. Maximus is truly an extension of my love and I can wholeheartedly say he has saved me. It was very easy to lose who I am, the mother, the wife, the daughter, the sister, but who am I? I give all of my being to my children and my family and unfortunately the self love cup by the end of the day is empty. Max doesn't care if I have the house spotless (lets call it how it is, as mothers we are judged on how capable we are as mothers based on our homes cleanliness), or that I am not at the gym five day's a week (hikes with max are way better anyways) or that I ate three slices of pizza for breakfast (I needed to share a few bites). He honestly casts no judgment my way, instead comes tip-toeing in to my bed each night to snuggle as close as physically possible to me. I give all that I have daily and each and every day he replenishes my cup. My children are getting older and individually finding their independence which means they no longer rely on me for every single thing and this again leaves me questioning who I am if not the busy mom. Maximus is extremely social and with that amazing quality finds us making new friends, meeting new people (and of course doggos) and constantly having new adventures. He is excessively affectionate and that is no understatement, he is currently laying on me as I type. He is sensitive, gentle and a down right goofball who is known by everyone for the big lovey dovey dope that he is. The devotion and endearment is hands down the best qualities of having a dog as a companion. They love with no limits and they love you with their entire being from the moment they are your's until their very last breath. One of my greatest life's adventures is not only being able to watch him grow along side my children but to have him help me to grow to love myself again.

"I will always love you my boy".