Like the rest of the world, I have been busy.
Really really busy.
I won't bore you all with the minute details, but in between all the extra holiday stuff, and raising three kids, and keeping up the house, and caring for the dogs, I work! I love my job, but it is still work and still time spent away from my family. But yesterday I had the opportunity to combine work and family and it was a feel good job for all.

It is easy to loose sight of what is truly important in this world. Ask any happy family and they will tell you that the main thing to strive for is balance between work and family. Sounds much easier than it actually is. I can't stand the looks on my children's faces when they beg and plead with me to spend time with them instead of working. I am lucky because I love my job, and make my own hours, but I still have to leave the kids more often than I would like to.
Today was just a bit different. After school today all three of my kids came along on a job.

Our mission:
Help a five month old puppy at a busy shop in downtown Portland overcome his fear of little kids. Today was all about making great positive associations for the puppy with kids. By using my kids who know how to interact with dogs and have no fear, things progressed at a rapid pace.
Dogs and puppies who like kids are good with kids, and this was a job tailor made for us!
I started with 9 year old middle child. We entered dropping lots goodies on the floor and while the puppy was hesitant at first, he warmed up quickly once we added a tennis ball. Next we added the 5 year old and puppy loved her. My 13 year old son joined us shortly there after and the puppy barely even noticed him.

We stayed much longer than the usual allotted time and by the time we were getting ready to go, both my girls were nearly crying and begging to take the puppy home with us as they rolled around on the floor with him. When customers came in the 5 year old proudly announced to any one who would listen that she was the dog trainer.

When it was time to settle up my bill, I took the shop owner aside and we discussed letting the kids pick out a few things on barter. After all they did all the work. Spending a few hours with my kids, a great puppy and a wonderful owner, sure didn't much feel like work anyway. My kids were beaming with pride as they left the shop with their new acquisitions.
Money isn't everything!

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