It’s Not for Parents to Determine How Much Love Someone Has for Their Pets

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Pets may not be human, but that doesn’t diminish the love we have for them. Every few months, we seem to revisit the same debate about whether kids and pets are comparable. For some reason, referring to our dogs or cats as “furkids” or “furbabies” really seems to annoy some parents. A recent article on YourTango even suggested that likening pets to children is “disrespectful to moms.” While many agree with this viewpoint, I honestly don’t get the fuss.

Having been both a parent and a pet owner, I can confidently say there are quite a few parallels between the two. Both require love, attention, almost constant supervision, potty breaks, meal prep, and come with a host of added responsibilities and unexpected feelings. Parents often argue that their role is more challenging than that of pet owners, but is that really the case? Sure, I’ve been up at all hours tending to my crying babies, but I’ve also had to wake up in the middle of the night to clean up after a sick terrier. I can tell you, one is definitely more pleasant than the other.

The real sticking point seems to be about who loves their dependents more. Many parents insist that the love for a child is infinitely stronger than that for a pet — that the stakes are higher and the commitment is deeper. But how can anyone really measure whose love is more profound?

When we discuss kids versus pets, we’re often really addressing this somewhat irritating belief among parents that they have a monopoly on love and devotion. After all, they created and are raising these kids, so they consider themselves the experts on what constitutes a “true” family. They often feel that their sacrifices give them the authority to judge how much others care about their pets.

But that’s simply not true, and it’s a rather misguided notion. Some folks love their pets just as fiercely as parents love their children. Many have pets instead of kids and pour just as much time, energy, and emotion into them. It’s not for anyone to dictate how “real” someone else’s feelings or commitments are. Just because someone has kids does not make them the ultimate judges of love.

If someone wants to call their pet their “furbaby,” that’s perfectly fine with me, and really, it shouldn’t bother other parents either. We can’t determine which relationships matter and one type of love doesn’t diminish another. Both furkids and real kids bring immense joy and fulfillment to our lives, and it’s unfair for anyone to undermine that by acting like their own experiences are the most significant.

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In summary, love for pets and kids is deeply personal and varies from person to person. It’s vital to respect each person’s unique perspective on their relationships without comparing them to others. Let’s embrace the joy that all kinds of love bring to our lives!