USA Today had the following headline, “Are Americans crazy for treating our pets like kids?” The writer also followed this up with the question, ” Is there something, well, weird about that?”
In the article, it also sited a Kelton Research survey commissioned by Milo’s Kitchen pet treats, that reported the following:
•81% regard their pets as full members of the family.
•58% call themselves their pets’ “mommy” or “daddy.”
•77% buy pets birthday gifts.
•More than half say they talk about pets more than politics or sex.
Treating pets like family is “especially pervasive … among empty nesters, singles and/or childless, and the homebound,” says Waco, Texas, psychologist Julia Becker. Those groups are growing because we’re living longer, and also because so many people aren’t having children. Her feeling about pet obsessions: “It’s fun for the people who do it. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
Here is why Simon is treated as one of my favorite children:- Simon is always happy to see his Mom. I can’t say that for the rest of my kids.
- Simon never complains. I can’t say this for the rest of my kids.
- Simon takes direction without a lot of argument. I can’t say this for the rest of my kids.
- Simon is grateful whenever he receives treats or presents. I can’t say this for the rest of my kids.
- Simon always wants to be with his Mom. Once my kids became teenagers, they didn’t want to be seen with us parents!
- …and the list goes on.
And people wonder why we treat our pets like one of our children! They love us all time…even when they are teenagers.
