I love my boys, but they're little animals. Sometimes they're hyper, poo-throwing monkeys, sometimes they're cuddly little baby kittens, and sometimes they're rabid little dogs. But most times...my baby boys are little baby wolves.
I am fascinated with wolves. They're beautiful, dangerous animals that have an amazingly complex social structure. Over the years, I've learned much through books, movies and, yes, the internet. Although I'm not Team Jacob or Alcide or Remus Lupin (a reference to Twilight, True Blood and Harry Potter for those of you living under a rock), I've found incredible similarities between the human and lupine worlds
Wolves are pack animals- they'll stick with the same pack (usually a family) unless they're driven out or choose to leave. Its a status-led society where everyone has a place in a hierarchy from the alpha male/female to the lowest omega member. Each pack has a territory that the alphas fight to protect, and the oldest siblings help take care of their youngest siblings when the older adults leave to find food. They hunt together, they play together and they'll fight to the death to protect the pack.
In other words, they're a suburban family.
My boys know the hierarchy: Mommy/Daddy are the alphas, followed by anyone older than them...then Aidan, then Liam, then Nala the cat (my poor omega kitty!). When Aidan or Liam challanges authority (as young wolves often do), a firm verbal nip on the backside quickly re-establishes the status quo. Baby wolves often lick the faces of the adults to wheedle affection and my boys know how to kiss to manipulate! They even pee in the bushes to mark their territory (an activity I am actively trying to discourage!). The whining...ah, the whining- its universal in any language, animal or human! Like the baby wolves, my boys playfight to practice dominance games when they become older. And when they become old enough, they'll leave to form their own packs, and have their own little baby wolves (God willing!).
As for me, I'm not much different from a wolf either. Like a mother wolf, I am ferociously protective of my kids. Nothing is more dangerous than a mother wolf protecting her cubs in danger. If you threaten my cubs, you're going to get mauled. My home town are my hunting grounds whereby I forage for food and clothing (generally on sale), and work with my mate to keep our territory from falling to another pack. Plus, wolves mate for life and so do I. If my mate cheats on me, he dies. Enough said.
I love my little cubs. I'll play with them, discipline them, feed them and educate them. I'll run with them, laugh with them and most of all, dance with them. What else can you do? They'll grow up too fast and you'll miss it if you don't.
Just don't mess with me during my moon cycles. Seriously.
