Underpaid Dog Dads Annonymous

Dear Blog Diary,

(I should preface this, with…I got a new dog! He’s a short stocky pitbull staffy brindle who knows what, and I named him Sumo.)

"Things we do for love." - Jamie Lannister (and Bran)

I walked both dogs for about 20 minutes yesterday and Sumo was tugging a bit too much for my liking. So, he wanna talk shit…he gunna find out. I dropped Kuma off at the house and then I ran that boy within an inch of collapse for over an hour. Sprints, fast cruising, periodically stopping for water.

Serves me right. He drank too much in one sitting, puked it all up on the carpet.

Took them to the dog park that evening. Sumo loves fetch. I threw a tennis ball for about an hour and a half. As they say, when God made that boy he forgot to add the quit.

Kuma will forever have my heart, for the record. It has been a struggle for me, just making sure she knows she is loved, has alone time with me, feels special as I fight the feeling like I’m betraying her for giving so much to Sumo.

For those that don’t know, I’m in advertising. It wasn’t until last year when I was at Charlie’s house warming and someone asked what I do for work and Saarik answered, “he’s an ad man.” I had never put two together but it’s true.

Mad Men is my favorite show of all time and I’ve often wondered if it has something to do with me getting into advertising. Don Draper is my favorite with Peggy a close second.

My favorite scene in the entire show is one between Peggy the copywriter and Don the creative director. They’re in an argument where Peggy is feeling under-appreciated as she does great work and Don built on her idea and got an award. Don says…

“That’s the way it works. There are no credits on commercials.”

“But you got the Clio.”

“It’s your job! I give you money and you give me ideas!”

“And you never say ‘thank you’!”

“That’s what the money is for!”

Being a parent is often a thankless pro bono job. For me, it’s the dogs. Those with children, I feel you, even just a fraction. We give so much, our life revolves around them, then sometimes we get credit as we're expected to be overjoyed because we chose this. Still, it has been such a thrill how little by little Sumo's affection is growing and all three of us are becoming a family.

Things we do for love.

E

#ARTiculate