"we got rid of our dogs"
since becoming a mother, i will admit my empathy for moms in general has grown a SIZEABLE amount. i am willing to overlook a lot, i am willing to not judge for a whole lot. your hormones are out of whack for literally two years, you deserve a break.
but all this to say, if there is one thing i WILL judge parents for, as i'm in the thick of caring for an infant myself, is this: getting rid of your beloved pets. sorry, but how? we have three cats and a large dog and it hasn't crossed my mind even once to get rid of any of them. they are my family! we are their family! we are all they have ever known and i find it unbelievably cruel to give up your animals because you're tired and you don't wanna deal with them anymore.
i understand how overwhelming it is, trust me. i work two jobs. i do a full course load of classes. i am exhausted all the fucking time. i have all these animals and my three month old baby. and i still wouldn't ever in my life give up my fur babies. i love them!
parents look me straight in the face and say, "oh yeah, we got rid of our dogs, it was just too much" and smile at me as if i can relate. not me, hunny! i am judging you six ways to sunday right now! i would not have admitted to that if i were you!!
it just makes me soooo sad! you made that commitment to those animals when you took them home. then you had a baby and realized you had to still take care of them? animals are not nearly as high maintenance as a baby, let me tell you. i just think it's a ridiculous excuse.