Parenting Parley
Animals and Kids: It's About Love
There's something about pets and kids that can make parents go all mushy. But what does the relationship mean to children?
Madeline Hauser had a rough year. Amid all of the upheaval that is adolescence, the awkwardness, the insecurity, the bevy of change that accompanies the metamorphosis from child- to adulthood, Madeline grew an unprecedented four inches in six months. And, according to her mother, the growth spurt has required more than just physical adjustment. "She's a 5-foot-8-inch 12-year-old. It's been hard for her to find success at something. Here, she finds succes," Madeline's mother, Shayla, says to me one Friday evening at Nova Quarter Horses in Mokena. Madeline rides breezily by in the arena, warming her horse up at a spirited walk for a lesson. My most cherished childhood memories took place at a barn. It's been ages since I've had the time or …
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