"The animals have no voice but ours..."

Supernanny, HELP!

January 1, 2008
Jennifer Vanderau
 

So do you think I could get the Supernanny to come in and help me get control of my pets?

Last night I found the newest episode of Supernanny and realized the children really seemed to mirror my cats. Wait, wait, you gotta hear me out on this one. I’ve had another one of my epiphanies.

For those of you who are unaware, Supernanny is a show dedicated to helping parents instill discipline and manners in their kids. A genuine (I assume) English nanny, ala Mary Poppins, comes into the house and sets up rules and guidelines to help restore order.

I really get a kick out of her accent.

Anyway, as I watched the kids run and rip around the house, tossing toys willy-nilly into every corner of the room, I recognized the purring bundle of fur in my lap did pretty much the same thing. She destroyed (as in ripped to shreds) a plastic bag just two days ago, so you can see the similarities I’m drawing.

So then I got to thinking about how comparable animals can be to children (especially the young ones). Indeed, from the first moment my latest four-legged squirt entered the house a little more than a year ago, I’ve felt as though I had a toddler in my midst.

First, when you have children and animals, there’s the basic care involved. When they’re hungry, you feed them. When they’re thirsty, they drink.

I sometimes have to clean up between my cat’s toes and wipe gunk from their eyes. And I can’t tell you how many times my furballs upchuck their dinner and I try to make them feel better. See? It’s like having a baby.

It’s also sometimes not a good idea to leave children or pets alone for very long. There have been so many instances when I’ve been snoozing or watching TV only to be interrupted by an enormous crash (sometimes including the shattering of glass) from somewhere in the apartment. Upon investigation, I’d find the little one staring up at me with those big, green eyes of hers as if to say, “Hey ma, check this out. It looks sharp.”

Somehow it seems both children and animals can get into all kinds of mischief when left unsupervised.

Additionally both babies and pets look quite adorable while they’re sleeping. Indeed, I’d imagine new parents look forward to the naps, not only for the “aww” factor but also because of those precious seconds to breathe. I know in the beginning, when my little monster was tiny, I’d actually tiptoe around the house when she was sleeping so as not to wake her up.

Heck, my one baby boy even sleeps in my arms like an infant, so really, the experiences do seem to emulate one another.

The one big difference, however, is our pets won’t grow up to speak (and in my case, man, am I ever grateful for that), so we don’t have to worry about them picking up our language or mimicking what we say. As a result, I talk babytalk to my group all the time and come up with crazy nicknames that many times barely even register as English.

Still, as I watched the kids on the Supernanny show race around and generally create havoc, I couldn’t help but see how very similar my herd of felines was. And I have to admit, the biggest connection I had with the family I saw on the show was the love.

The parents were willing to work with their children because they loved them, and heaven knows I follow my little stinkers around and keep them safe for the very same reason. The purrs and the snuggles and the little trilling meows are what keep me going and allow me to tolerate the shredded bags and ripped up furniture.

Although I have to admit, if the Supernanny could get my feline group under control and disciplined, I’m thinking she should be in line for an Emmy. Seriously.

Anyway, if you’re looking for some fun in the homestead like I’ve got, stop by the shelter. We’ve got a lot of great felines, canines (even rabbits, a guinea pig and a gerbil!) who could definitely give the Supernanny a run for her money. Stop by and see what I mean.  

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