BETWEEN THE LINES: MAKING A FUSS OVER YOUR PETS, CHILDREN ISN'T ALWAY A BAD IDEA

Being protective of our loved ones might not be the solution, but it's a good place to start.

I left town for the holiday weekend and returned to find my cats still alive and well. And the couch wasn't torn to shreds, either.

I always worry that something dreadful might happen while I'm away. But, as usual, they fared rather well for the experience. I did, after all, leave them in the care of a very capable pet owner and co-worker friend, Sandy.

I have discovered that finding the proper cat-sitter or pet caretaker is much like the search parents make when finding a baby sitter for their children. You want someone who will care for their basic needs, but shower them with the love and affection they need as well. And most of all, it has to be a person they like.

It's a tough job to fill. It's sort of like hiring a nanny for your pets. Finding the right nanny for a child isn't easy -- just look at all the bad ones caught misbehaving on videotape -- imagine finding a match for your pets, and all their bad habits.

When I lived in Florida, my biggest problem at work was traveling, often on incredibly short notice. At the time, I didn't have a pet sitter, and kennels were always expensive. After lamenting about my troubles, a friend and her son offered to feed the cats. Matthew loved to come and play with them, and I knew his mom, Lisa, would make sure nothing bad happened.

Maybe the fuss I make over my pets is just that: unnecessary fussing. Or maybe it's a small foreshadowing of what sort of parent I will eventually become.

And I think maybe more parents in our country should spend time fussing over their children. It might not be the solution to our woes, but it would be a great place to start.

Last week I spent three afternoons with some children in the GREAT program sponsored by the police department and Caring Communities. It was an educational experience for me, and hopefully for the children too.

GREAT teaches gang and drug resistance skills to children. Speakers from the police department and juvenile justice came to talk to the kids about what happens if you are arrested; health department nurses talked to them about the effects alcohol and drugs can have. I learned something from the course curriculum.

But what I most liked was that these kids were honest. They talked about violence at school, even if it is hard for a 7-year-old boy to understand why a classmate might want to bring a gun to Play Day. They talked about lying -- and getting caught by their parents. They knew people who were using drugs or had been offered them. It was an honest look at the world your children face when they leave the confines of your protection.

That's why I love children. They are honest. And in their honesty, they offer a fresh look at the world. I was just glad they let me have a peak at theirs. It was a view that offered some hope, hesitation and a little bit of hubris. But I think it was a beautiful place to be.

~Laura Johnston is a copy editor for the Southeast Missourian.