Cait and Me Archives - Page 8 of 16

When Knowing Dog Training Comes in Handy for Raising Kids — Or Operant Conditioning: Part 1

When I was young, I was quite shy and never liked drawing attention to myself. One of the ways this manifested was that I spoke very softly. My wonderful father was bothered by this trait and took it upon himself to remedy the situation. Anytime I spoke, he’d interrupt and insist that I speak more loudly.

Interestingly, this constant reminder to speak up did not have the effect of making me speak louder. Instead, I’d step closer to be heard … Read More

When Life Dumps a Truckload of Manure in Your Driveway

May 24, 2009 / Cait and Me, Finnegan the Coon Cat, Life, My Garden / Recipes / By Karen Shanley / 6 Comments

Ever go through one of those times where you wake up in the morning to find a truckload of manure in your driveway? You didn’t order it. You don’t need it. You can’t return it, because the midnight interloper has left no forwarding address. And you’re not going to be able to get your car out of the garage until you get the pile moved.

What’s a person to do?

Why, read a book and plant a garden, of course.… Read More

A Year of Firsts

May 10, 2009 / Cait and Me, My Dogs and Me / By Karen Shanley / 14 Comments

Time flies when you’re having fun. And Cait has been having loads of fun with her little boy. Hard to believe he’s one year old!

Our very first meeting.

Wink (then named Casey) was a little shy and oh so tiny.… Read More

Three Sides to Every Story

May 3, 2009 / Cait and Me / By Karen Shanley / 10 Comments

Cait came into this world with extra helpings of compassion and empathy. It doesn’t take long for people to discover this about her. And it’s not surprising that her friends frequently put her in the role of confidant and mediator. But it’s a role she often finds stressful — she worries about the responsibility of remaining unbiased and fair.

That’s a tall order for an emotionally mature adult, never mind a 13-year old caught in the throes of trying to … Read More

If This Dog…

March 22, 2009 / Cait and Me, My Dogs and Me / By Karen Shanley / 10 Comments

… could figure out how to crawl inside her skin to be that much closer, I’ve no doubt he would!

This is how the two of them sleep every night. Face to face. Breath to breath. Heartbeat to heartbeat.

It’s a love like no other. And I can’t believe that Cait has finally found it. It’s been a long time coming. So long, in fact, that I wondered if she’d ever get to have the experience.

All it took was … Read More

Joining the Modern World

December 28, 2008 / Cait and Me, Life / By Karen Shanley / 7 Comments

One of the ongoing battles I have with the modern world is how it works so hard to rob our children of their childhoods. I’ve fought a good war on as many fronts as I’ve been able — protecting my daughter when she’s needed protecting, and encouraging her to move out to meet that world when she’s given the signal that she’s been ready.

Sometimes knowing how and when has been glaringly obvious. Like knowing that Cait can’t handle watching … Read More

Running for the Train

November 30, 2008 / Cait and Me, My Favorites / By Karen Shanley / 13 Comments

Cait, knowing we had a long drive ahead, led with her standard question as soon as we pulled out of the driveway, “So, Mom, what should we talk about?”

Feeling more than a little frazzled and grumpy from a ridiculously hectic morning, I said, “Give me a minute.”

I concentrated on unfurrowing my brow, loosening my grip on the steering wheel, and taking a couple of deep breaths.

“Okay,” I said, looking over at Cait. “Now, what was it you … Read More

On the Cusp

September 28, 2008 / Cait and Me, Life, My Favorites / By Karen Shanley / 12 Comments

I’m beginning to get whiplash as I watch my daughter speed past on her way into teenage-dom. Before too long, she’ll be thirteen. And she can’t get there fast enough.

I am almost daily reminded of this in one way or another now. And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that this realization often comes with a twinge of sadness for the little girl I’m losing.

As all teenagers are, she’s become quite concerned with looks and what other … Read More