The dog was in my space. Again.
It's not unusual. It's not even unexpected. But I have a space on the couch, my perfect nesting space to settle in and watch TV and work on my current-yarn project. And Riker was in it. Never Orion, he likes the other end.
The girls and I always joke when a dog gets on the couch with us- will you get the butt or the head? Riker's a true mama's boy, I usually get the head. Which is good, if you've ever been around Riker. His back end smells are lethal and you never hear them coming until you have no clean air.
But it applies to my 2-legged kids as well. (Yea I said it- I have 4 kids. They all have different needs and personalities and temperaments. If the girls ask, I don't lie to them- Orion is usually my favorite child.)
And my kids (with the exception of my favorite) like to be…
IN
MY
SPACE.
Not just the couch. My literal space. Which I should love, as a parent, right? I'll miss it when it's gone, right? I should get all the snuggles now because they'll hate me when they're teens, right?
I am not a kid cuddler. I'm not a cuddler in general. I'm like a cat. I will cuddle on my terms, otherwise beat it. (No wonder it feels like I'm allergic to my own skin.)
Paige is a C-U-D-D-L-E-R. She wants nothing more than to be attached to my side under my arm and close to my neck. She would lightly rub her hands all over my arms and nuzzle my neck all day if I let her. "You can sit next to me, not on me," is a constant refrain when we sit together.
Charlotte is like an antsy Great Dane puppy, all limbs and elbows. She wants to be in my lap but damn she inherited my bony butt. And she's extremely ticklish, so move once and the zen is over.
Riker starts on one end of the couch and somehow ends half in my lap, if he doesn't accidentally roll off in his sleep.
I just need SPACE, children! Everyone wants me at once, and while it can be extremely gratifying when all I feel I do is yell, I am not the cuddler you are looking for. Go find a dog to lay with.
So yes, Riker, get out of my couch space so I can settle down for the night. Because bedtimes have become a bit fluid with growing children and summer schedules, and I need chill time more than ever.
Give me my space so I can do it all again tomorrow.
