Stuffed Animals
My son wants a pet. He's wanted one for quite awhile and we are just not ready to commit to an animal. With four wild boys in the house, we have all the animals we can handle. So, what's a mother to do? At the moment, I'm bribing him with a stuffed animal. Lame, I know. But, I'm desperate and it seems to be working. I've promised him that we will go to one of those Build A Bear places where he can pick out any version of the cutest stuffed animal in the world that he wants. This company is amazing. He can pick out the heart to put in its body and watch as they "build" his bear. Then, he can pick out clothes for his bear and make a birth certificate for it. He can even name his little creation.
Ok - so it won't cuddle with him in bed and make for adorable bonding experiences. But, it also won't bark in the middle of the night and demand to be walked at all hours. It won't cost money for food and veterinarian shots. And, it's his very own. He doesn't even need to share this pet with his brothers.
No, this solution won't work for everyone, but it seems to be working for us. He's forgotten about his quest for a real animal for the moment and is focusing on his exciting trip to the mall. I can't guarantee that this excitement will last forever, but it's paying off for now. One day at a time!
