A wild dog attacked me when I was eight years old.
It bit me in the belly and scratched my legs as I tried to escape.
That moment, almost thirty years ago, birthed within me a fear of dogs.
When dogs are off their leashes, I secretly panic.
When people tell me how cute and well-behaved their dogs are – I silently damn them.
This early traumatic experience has held me captive, and I have not given another dog a chance to get close to me.
My son has felt my fear, and he too has an aversion of dogs.
Memories have a way of holding us hostage.
I am taking the tiny steps necessary to push fear aside and I invited Markolee on the ride with me. I am grateful to Lauren for sharing Jubilee with us on Sunday.
The sun was warm, the lighting was perfect and I watched as my little guy took his time and got closer and closer to this sweet puppy.
Markolee fed Jubilee a snack, threw him a frisbee and a ball. The puppy played so much she grew tired and laid down for a nap. She woke up full of energy, and the boy and the dog played again.
Markolee’s goal was to hold Jubilee, and he accomplished it- so did I.
We all have early childhood traumas-
memories that strangle our future-
NAME them and take the tiny steps necessary to heal.
♥
Kadine
2 Comments
Lorna
You go Marko!
Once again Kadine you nailed this one, what a beautiful piece tying you, your child and everyone in it. You recon that we all have child traumas to deal with, I actually had the same experience like you did as a child. I actually remembered the very spot where the dog bit me on my way home from school, like an idiot I stopped to watch him finished peeing on the tree, it was just amazing to me how he went to the trunk of the tree and aimed so perfectly at it just to pee. I hated dogs since then until I came in contact with that dog on the subway in NY, his owner blind, he wanted a spot on the crowded train for his owner to sit, this dog spotted just enough space to fit his mouth between two strangers bottoms and he went to work, he never stopped pushing and poking each persons butt until there was enough room for his owner to fit his butt, he then tough on his leach until his owner turned around and sat in the space he provided. That’s when I fell in love with Mr Dog. Then later in life I got two of my own. They really are humans best friend.
Kadinechristie
I got storytelling from you Mommy. I always love hearing how you tell them too… this story made me chuckle with delight.