We were very good girls today
My very old, very opinionated little dog believes that my sole reason to exist is to take her for car rides. And, since at this stage of her life my absolute greatest joy is to spoil her, I guess she's not *technically* wrong.
This afternoon, I had nowhere to go but she very insistently and very *loudly* informed me of her insatiable need for speed, so off we went to the local ice cream shop. It was busy and we're both introverts, but we powered through. She's shy, but was cursed with cuteness, so people were smiling and waving at her. Still, we *almost* got to the order window before a very tiny girl walked up to us & asked if she could pet my dog. So I crouched down and introduced her to Sylvie, and the kid just...? leaned into me like she herself was a friendly little pup, patted the doggy, and asked me questions and told me all about her opinions on dogs (all positive, btw).
Then, an even tinier child walked up and reached out in that grasping way that terrifies small dogs and their owners. I strategically turned Sylvie so that no little ears would get grabbed just in time for Dad to grab toddler and remind him to be gentle. So, as toddler held out his hand in a less grabby way, I let Sylvie decide if she wanted to be touched by him (he smelled like melted ice cream so that was a hesitant yes) & I had a nice, mostly unintelligible conversation with the tiny girl and her tinier brother until Dad dragged them away & it was my turn to order.
Before I stepped up to the window, I snuggled Sylvie close and whispered that she did *so good* with those little kids & i was very proud of her. I always do after interactions like that because I know that socializing isn't really Sylvie's jam, just like it's not really *my* jam. She may be a demented little psychopath, but she is a good girl at her core.
As we were waiting at the pickup window, my spouse pulled us into a hug and whispered that I did *so good* interacting with all of those strangers and that he was very proud of me.
Perhaps, deep down, I am also a good girl.