I remember when we picked our puggle, Mosotos, up from the vet when we adopted him in ‘burbs. I had to walk him into the woods adjacent to the parking lot to get him to pee before bringing him in the car. Three weeks of city living later, when we came back for a follow-up, he proudly peed on a lamp post. City living is different.
So, mothering a mutt being my only previous foray into parenting, and myself a cul-de-sac-raised girl, I wondered what it would be like to raise city kids. Then I realized they didn’t know any better. Until…Though we are technically still in “The City,” it sure doesn’t feel like it. I have seen more types of bugs and spiders than I can even count, many in my house. There are burrows all over the landscaped parts of the yard that I am pretending are inhabited by chipmunks Daniel almost hit a deer on his way to the airport early one morning. We have seen hummingbirds in our geraniums (that’s right; we have geraniums), and praying mantises (manti?) abound. We have wildlife here. And that’s great, except my kids have never encountered it before and aren’t quite sure what to do with it.
So, mothering a mutt being my only previous foray into parenting, and myself a cul-de-sac-raised girl, I wondered what it would be like to raise city kids. Then I realized they didn’t know any better. Until…Though we are technically still in “The City,” it sure doesn’t feel like it. I have seen more types of bugs and spiders than I can even count, many in my house. There are burrows all over the landscaped parts of the yard that I am pretending are inhabited by chipmunks Daniel almost hit a deer on his way to the airport early one morning. We have seen hummingbirds in our geraniums (that’s right; we have geraniums), and praying mantises (manti?) abound. We have wildlife here. And that’s great, except my kids have never encountered it before and aren’t quite sure what to do with it.
“Mommy! Mirabella cried one day, regarding a robin in the yard, “Look at that pigeon!” I explained that pigeons are just one type of bird, and that they don’t live everywhere. Later, when I described a woodpecker I had seen, she said, “That’s a type of pigeon, right?” We’ll get there.
Unfortunately, that’s not the only wildlife we’ve encountered in the Village, or in our home. As Daniel and I sat watching a movie the other night, I saw a mouse scamper from under the fridge and across the kitchen floor. I saw Daniel pretend not to notice it until I mentioned it. When we moved in, we found a closet full of poison and strange electric devices that are supposed to repel rodents. Apparently, they do not. As my dad reminded me, it wouldn’t be fair to call it a country mouse, but the one I’ve seen so far seemed much better fed than our occasional downtown mice. I know we live in a 130-year-old house. But I’d really rather not share the space.
Unfortunately, that’s not the only wildlife we’ve encountered in the Village, or in our home. As Daniel and I sat watching a movie the other night, I saw a mouse scamper from under the fridge and across the kitchen floor. I saw Daniel pretend not to notice it until I mentioned it. When we moved in, we found a closet full of poison and strange electric devices that are supposed to repel rodents. Apparently, they do not. As my dad reminded me, it wouldn’t be fair to call it a country mouse, but the one I’ve seen so far seemed much better fed than our occasional downtown mice. I know we live in a 130-year-old house. But I’d really rather not share the space.
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