When one is going through a difficult time in their life, one may gain comfort in the most unexpected ways.
My father recently died and my mom has had to come to grips with living alone after being with my Dad more than 50 years. She tells me about the sadness she feels to look over at his armchair and see it without my Father. Yet, I visited her last weekend and the house had new energy…in the way of these playful kittens.
When my Dad was in the hospital a stray cat had begun to hang around their house. With his life hanging in the balance, my mom didn’t have time to take the cat to a rescue. It turns out that the cat was carrying babies. A few months after my Dad passed away the mama kitty delivered eight tiny kittens. Taking care of the newborns and their mama kept my own mother occupied. I kidded her about turning into the “cat lady” of the neighborhood but was secretly glad she had this distraction.
It’s been over six months now and she’s down to three of the bouncing kittens. When I came in the door they ran to me, scampering and jumping. You can’t stop yourself from smiling at their boundless energy. The best part about the kittens is the comfort they’ve brought to my mother. To quote her, “They keep me company.” Which brings me to the point for those of you who may be going through divorce. An animal can be a huge comfort to you during your divorce. I’m not suggesting you adopt three kittens, but there are hundreds of animals that need homes. When you feel lonely there isn’t a better antidote than a dog or cat who loves you.
To that end, I am going to begin featuring animals that could use a home. If you already have an animal, take time to nurture the relationship. Pet them more, go for a walk, get them a treat. It will make you feel better!
