We have two beautiful children – the number is by choice, the beauty is by luck (or perhaps clouded judgement!). I was very lucky and had a boy and a girl, which in my mind was exactly what I wanted and negated the need to ask whether we’d have one more. I was one of two and as such, to me, two children meant my family was complete … also, if the truth be known *whispers* I didn’t like being pregnant. The story of the soldier who gave birth on the front line totally amazes me – how could she not have known? I was instantly aware that I was sharing my body with someone else, and felt every day of those nine long months!
So, my youngest is now four – and has just started school. There are no longer any nappies in our house, everyone (mostly) sleeps through the night, they know when to be quiet, they can pretty much tidy up their own toys, get dressed and the best bit … I am able to go to the loo alone, without an audience.
However, last week we did something to unhinge this picture of domestic bliss … no, we didn’t have wild, unprotected sex and leave the consequences in the lap of the Gods… We got a cat! Not a kitten – a one year old cat, from The Blue Cross rescue centre. Her story melted our hearts – she was found in a barn with her four kittens who were all rehomed within a matter of weeks. Maryalice (as she was named) was still in the rehoming centre four months later – overlooked because she was black & white! But she was exactly what we wanted and as a proven lap cat, she was the perfect addition to our family.
And she is.
She is so friendly and sweet and has settled in very quickly – sleeping on my lap on the first night she was here, sleeping on my laptop when I was trying to work and snuggling with the kids! Perfect.
But it is exactly like having another baby in the house!
She cries in the night, gets up early, needs constant attention, meows when I’m on the phone (especially important work calls) and has an overwhelming desire to escort me to the loo … and sit watching my every move! Flashback two years and apart from the fact she’s covered in fur, her interest in what I’m doing is amazingly reminiscent of the kids!
Hubby and I are having the same conversations – “we need to set boundaries” – “we need to be consistent” – “she’s not sleeping in our bed” … oh yes, we’ve been here before! Only last time we did none of these things and our darling daughter didn’t sleep through the night for over three years!
This time we will learn from our mistakes, draw on our experience and be tougher! Even if she cries in the night we will leave her, we won’t let her out of the kitchen, we’ll be cruel to be kind and it will be better for all of us in the long run.
So this morning when I was woken up at the crack of dawn, there was a little face staring at me and a very warm sensation on my feet – just cat size and warm enough to have been there all night – I knew that we’d failed in our parenting skills again! Welcome to three more years of broken sleep … at least!
The cat sounds alot like what you would get if you had another baby x x
My second blog for The Real Supermum! Who needs another baby? Why not get a cat! http://t.co/M2E1gpMp
I love this, it really does sound exactly as if you have had another child. I grew up on a farm so my experience with cats is different, they slept in the house during the day and went out hunting on a night but now I live in a town I can imagine it would be alot harder to set boundries with one. I’m just about to have another child anyway so having to start all over again with the boundries and routines. Good luck with the cat, hope it doesn’t take too long to learn the rules. x
Thanks Clare! I’m sure once she’s allowed out, she’ll be out and about and will become more like a teenager… with us worrying if she’s ok and if she’ll be home or not!
lol – I did the kittens first and then the baby, but this cold be a better way round!
I can’t say know to ANY of their little faces either 
x
ive got 3 cats and a lil girl and im wanting another baby lol xx
Who needs another baby? Why not get a cat! http://t.co/0XaLPLy1
I really want a cat! My daughter is absolutely obsessed with dogs though and hates cats
so looks like it’s not an option for me when I’ve finished having children x
Wish I could have a cat, we got 2 kittens about a year ago but unfortunately my son is allergic to them x
Love this! My children are asking me for a cat but im not sure yet lol x
saves going through labour again lol x
Ive got a kitten which is worse then my 6 month old baby girl
ha ha ha love it!! we got a kitten just over a year ago but he had to go and live with my parents and he really does think he is a baby loves being cuddled and his tummy tickled!! xx
this is really funny as my oh new i want more kids we also have 2 and for fathers day he decided he wanted a kitten and yes its like having a baby i wake up to the cat “jellY” curled up on my pillow as shes snuck upstairs and im on the loo she sits in the door way meowing at me, she constantly under my feet whil ecoolong too lol xx
I want a cat for my little girl to play with but after bad experiences with our other one my OH wont let us have another one now
x
I have 1 kitten and 1 child but its like having 2 kids. Even down to the fighting over toys lol
Love this
…We have a cat jus after moving in our house last year we had a kitten for Reanne..they were a nightmare together tbh.. she would cry to me the cat was playing in her dolls house and kept scratching her when she moved him lol..we still had a baby tho 
xx
Haha this made me laugh x
Saves going through labour pain again lmao! x
i cant have anymore children as was sterlized 7 months ago n now want a kitten hehe i’m trying to get my hubby to agree on one
lol xx