About a week and a half ago, we brought home the newest addition to our family. A four-legged, ridiculously beautiful, fun-loving, ever-so-curious puppy named Trooper! I am brand new to this puppy raising thing. But I was extremely excited and eager to dive all in with loving and training our newest family member. Little did I know, he would also be training me in a few areas as well. Here are just a few of the things that he has been teaching me…

1. I need new pajamas.

Because our sweet new puppy always needs to go out in the morning while neighborhood parents are taking their kids to the school bus in front of our house. And being seen in raggedy old pajamas with holes makes me feel like a lost, wandering hobo. Not exactly an image I would like to give my neighbors.

2. Slow Down.

There is no speeding your puppy along when it comes to training, which has forced me into a slower pace. Especially when it comes to taking him outside to do his “business.” I have a huge tendency to be in a consistent go-go-go mode, and as much as I am working on housebreaking him, I feel like he is equally “breaking” me of my habitual race-like pace.

3. Stop to smell the flowers. Or the air. Or the grass…

Each time I take him outside, he wants to stand there and sniff the air. He wants to taste every leaf and stick. He is super curious about every car, person, or creature that goes by. And there is no hurrying him along in doing his business.

So I’ve learned to embrace it. To “smell the air” (take deep breaths), to take a moment to soak in the beauty of nature around us – trees, birds, clouds, etc. – and to appreciate it all just a little bit more. I have never seen more of my yard before bringing him home. He takes his sweet time smelling every blade of grass and new flower he sees. He forces me to slow down while he takes his time to tinkle. And it’s absolutely beautiful.

I was frustrated about it in the beginning, but I quickly learned that the chores inside can wait just a few more moments.

4. Spend More Time Outdoors

I didn’t think it was possible for a creature to pee as much as this sweet little puppy. I’m telling you, at times it has been like every 10 minutes. So talk about learning to slow down and be flexible… this new going outside every 10 minutes thing was really throwing a wrench in my fast-paced plans.

However, I quickly realized that it was a blessing in disguise. While at first it seemed like taking him out all the time was going to be a nightmare, I have quickly come to appreciate the time that he forces us out of the house. Being a homeschool + work-from-home mom, it can be really easy to go hours without even thinking about getting out of the house. And in an area where it rains off and on all day long for the entire summer, it can be easy to miss the windows of getting outside because it’s just not convenient to go out at that time. But thanks to Mr. Trooper, we are all getting plenty more fresh air and sunshine.

5. Be More Flexible

Having a puppy really is like having a newborn in some ways. People warned me, but I didn’t believe them…

I get it now.

Don’t get me wrong, it is definitely not EXACTLY the same. But I honestly didn’t even think about this when we talked about getting a puppy.

I have been forced to be more flexible in this season of puppyhood. To get things done when I can, not necessarily on the schedule that I want. To let things go when I can’t get to them, because it’s just not possible to do all the things when you have a puppy that needs all the supervision and training. To be willing to go outside in my PJs, feed my family hotdogs when I planned on making a home-cooked meal, dry shampoo my hair again, take the puppy out for another walk when I was just about to do the dishes… so many areas that require flexibility, but I’m too tired to remember them all! #nosleepforthepuppymamas

6. I can survive on less sleep than I thought I could.

I’ve been running on an average of 4 hours of sleep a night for the last 2 weeks. Some nights a little more, some nights a little less. And I am still alive. #winning #igotthis

7. I desperately need more sleep.

OMG. When they told me that having a puppy would be like having a baby, I didn’t believe them. I do now. And I miss sleeping.

I may be alive, but I’m barely functioning. Coffee is life right now. Also, everything makes me cry because I am exhausted. #failingmiserably #idontgotthis #sendcoffee

8. I have more time than I thought I did.

If I had actually believed anyone about how time consuming a puppy would be, we wouldn’t have one right now. And yet, life is still happening and we are managing. Even with all the time that our precious puppy demands.

9. I have WAY LESS time than I thought I did.

Ok, so I really thought I could maintain our current lifestyle while adding in this new furry four-legged family member.

Ha. Joke’s on me.

What is exercise? And showering before noon anymore? While we’re at it, what day is it?

10. Embrace the chaos. It won’t last forever. And once we are through it, we will have the memories and the laughter that comes with it.

So far this new puppy thing has been a wild, chaotic, exhausting, nerve-testing… and beautiful ride. The joy that he has brought us far outweighs the exhaustion and continuous cleaning up of puppy pee-pee. Our kids are full of giggles and their joy is overflowing as they learn to love and care for our new family member. My husband and I are fascinated with his intelligence. And we are all obsessed with his uber-cuteness. It’s hard to be upset with something as cute as a puppy, even when they pee on your area rug for the umpteenth time. He truly is a part of our family now. And we wouldn’t give that up for anything.