Why Home Decor Fails with Pets: A Personal Tale

What could you do less of?

If you have lived with pets the one thing you might always want to do less of is Home Decor.

Coz honestly, what’s the point!!!

I remember the first time Sugarplum walked into my house. She had just completed a long journey. She traveled all the way from Wisconsin to San Francisco!

She knew me, but not that well.

The first thing she approached was my earlier pup’s little toy box. It held not only physical toys but also the cherished memories of joyful playtimes that echoed in my heart. I decorated it beautifully after his passing. This was to keep his memory alive. I adorned it with hand-painted designs that reflected the spirit of my beloved companion. Inside, I meticulously placed some old favorites that had survived the test of time. I also added new toys for this new rambunctious Diva! Her exuberance was palpable as she explored the box. Her tiny paws dug through each item. I could already envision the delightful moments we would create together. We would blend the past and the present in a beautiful tapestry of love and joy.

Oh she did not care about the decoration or the keepsakes. She tore at his toys like there was a tornado right in the middle of my living room. She scattered colorful action figures and plush animals in every direction. She created chaos that overran the neatly arranged shelves. The sound of plastic clattering and fabric ripping filled the air. Her energy unleashed a wild frenzy. It was an unstoppable force that drowned out the whispers of nostalgia tied to each treasured item.

She picked up each of my neatly kept and nice little things one by one. Each item was a cherished memory. I had meticulously preserved these memories over the years. She chewed at them one keepsake at a time. She savored the textures and the stories attached to each piece. Her playful curiosity turned into a relentless exploration of my past. Every trinket held a fragment of my history. It offered a glimpse into moments that shaped who I am. With every nibble, she unraveled the emotions and memories they encapsulated, not just the objects themselves. This left me both fascinated and a little heartbroken at the same time.

I remember falling into an exhausted slumber three days in. My body yearned for rest after the long hours of relentless activity. I drifted into a peaceful dream. Suddenly, a jolt of terror gripped me. It pulled me from my sleep and I woke up to a nightmare! The shadows in my room seemed to twist and shift. Eerie shapes danced at the periphery of my vision. This left me feeling more unsettled than I had ever been.

The furniture in my house was trashed! The once elegant chairs lay toppled over. The table bore scratches and stains. Countless gatherings left it now marred by chaos. More trash was added to the existing pile. It created a scene of utter disarray. Remnants of broken items mingled with leftover wrappers and forgotten belongings. These turned my space into a chaotic dump that needed restoration and care.

That was my first lesson in Pawrenting – No more Home Decor!