The Dog Next Door

Rosie, the dog next-door, barks at every noise she hears including mine. Early on, I decided to be friendly, call her by name, let her get my scent, and otherwise make peace. Dogs are like that--accepting. They learn quickly about new scents and sounds but not Rosie! I tried everything. Nothing worked. Rosie barked on.

Then this morning it dawned on me Rosie can hear but her sense of smell apparently isn’t working. Without being able to associate sound with a familiar scent, she has to do what dogs do—bark. Maybe my conclusion carries no weight but I’m more forgiving now that I’ve decided her sniffer is broken.

People are a lot like Rosie. When they lack insight as to why people do something they don’t like, they bark like Rosie for no reason!

Thoughts About Parents and Children

1900-1920 - Children are to be seen and not heard.

1921-1940 - Children are to be seen and may only speak when parents stop talking.

1941-1960 - Children are to be seen and may speak if there is something important to say.

1961-1980 - Children are to be seen and heard.

1981-2000 - Children are not only to be seen, they may interrupt and parents must listen.

2001-Present - Parents are to be seen and not heard.