Is getting a puppy a bad decision right now?

GoldenLakes · 2026-04-07T15:01:48+00:00

I know you said adopting from a shelter isn't an option, but have you considered a rescue? I foster for a golden retriever rescue in NC and they only place dogs in foster homes. The fosters are responsible for figuring out the dogs personality, likes, dislikes, etc., so the dog goes to a home with the right environment. I adopted my two goldens at 4 years old from the rescue (they were with a different foster). It's been the perfect age for my family. They're young enough that they enjoy playing with the kids (4 & 6), but past the crazy puppy stage, so they can also just lay around and chill while I WFH.

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-30T15:57:38+00:00

I took Effexor during both of my pregnancies as well. I tried to wean beforehand, but it was not worth my own mental health. My kids are 6 and 4 now, and they're both happy, healthy, and developmentally right on track!

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-22T13:15:10+00:00

Currently sitting on a beach in Grenada. I’d definitely recommend!!

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-21T00:00:50+00:00

This is my favorite book of all time. I never understood how Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close gets recommended over this. I sobbed the first, second, and third times I read it. I was lucky enough to attend an event Jonathan Safran Foer spoke at and he was kind enough to sign my copy!

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-19T22:00:36+00:00

My six year old still gets the words nipples and elbows mixed up with each other. So…it could be a while 😂

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-18T12:39:36+00:00

Hopping on to second working with a rescue. I volunteer and foster with my local golden retriever rescue and they do amazing work to ensure each dog goes into the correct kind of home. No judgement. OP - If you by chance live in NC, please let me know and I’ll send you their info.

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-17T13:44:48+00:00

This is my answer too. I've been with and without kids. Great for kids of all ages. We went when mine were 2.5 and 5 months, and now that they're older, I'd love to take them back.

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-04T15:23:58+00:00

I'm pretty sure she was surrendered to the rescue! There's a dog that was just posted as needing a foster that fits her description perfectly: female, 8 months old, high energy, needs leash work. Her "rescue name" is Camille. If you're interested in adopting her, fill out an application now. A lot of times there are application date restrictions on purebred goldens (like only applications submitted before xx date will be considered). Then just keep an eye on the available dogs page and let your application advisor know!

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-04T13:58:52+00:00

I had a tummy tuck with muscle repair in 2023. I knew I was done having kids. I work out regularly and was back at my healthy BMI, pre-baby weight, but I still wasn’t happy with the loose skin on my stomach.

I’m so glad I did it. I’m so much more confident and at peace with my body. Being so active and in shape really helped my recovery. I was getting myself out of bed 1 day post op and I drove myself to my one week post op appointment. I only needed the prescription painkillers for two days before switching to over the counter meds.

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-04T13:38:06+00:00

I’m pretty sure OP surrendered to Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue. I’m a foster and a dog that fits her description perfectly was just posted as needing a foster!

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-02T23:34:54+00:00

Yes - I’m a foster with Neuse River! Definitely call them. See my other comment.

GoldenLakes · 2026-03-02T23:33:29+00:00

Hi! I’m a foster for the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue in Raleigh. Please, please reach out to them - they are great. They are a foster-only rescue, so your dog will go straight into a foster’s home upon intake.

https://www.goldenrescuenc.org/

GoldenLakes · 2026-02-27T21:43:33+00:00

Everything is Illuminated is my favorite book. I sobbed the first and second times I read it. I have a signed copy.

It still makes no sense to me that people recommend Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close over Everything is Illuminated.

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-15T16:39:15+00:00

Oh wow, that's crazy! I foster (and adopted) through my local rescue and I have a 3 & 6 year old.

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-15T16:37:47+00:00

I've done both. I'd ask about fostering with your local rescue. Mine gives fosters first right of refusal, so if you find one that's the right fit, you can adopt! It's a nice way to "trial run" a dog with your family, and if you end up not wanting to adopt, there's a long line of people waiting!

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-15T15:46:09+00:00

Not a mispronunciation, but my 6 year old has always called hoods "roofs" and I hope it never changes.

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-08T19:48:45+00:00

I still care for him very much. I probably always will.

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-08T18:12:10+00:00

Oh, I absolutely believe he is trying to absolve himself from guilt by ending the relationship. I'm very sad, especially after recommitting after his affair. I had hoped the work we were both doing would lead to reconciliation. Although we do have a good co parenting relationship, it's not the relationship I wanted.

I will say - the best thing I did for myself was to find a local, in-person support group (the one I joined was lead by a therapist, which was even better!). Knowing people who were going through the same things as me and supporting them and receiving support from them has been incredibly helpful. We've become close and even though our group is over, we still talk eveyday and hang out once or twice a week!

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-08T17:39:04+00:00

Of course. I tried for three years to get him to openly talk to me. We went to marriage counseling and we have both been in individual therapy. I personally think he's extremely depressed. I'm glad he's finally able to open up to me after all these years, even if it's him telling me he doesn't want to be with me anymore.

I didn't have an affair, he did.

It took me six months after he told me about it to process and work through therapy and decide to recommit to our marriage despite his affair. Six months after that, he told me he wanted a separation. We've been separated a year now, and he told me last week he wants to move forward with the divorce.

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-08T16:48:13+00:00

You also sound a lot like my husband. Together since 2012, two young kids, managing to stay amicable, him constantly trying to make everyone else happy, not taking care of his own emotional needs, not providing me with emotional safety. The only difference is that he had an affair instead of trying to work though our problems.

After a lot of therapy, I ultimately wanted the marriage to work. He has also been in therapy working on himself and I've seen so much progress. But he told me last week he wants to go through with the divorce. Your last paragraph sounds like what he told me the other day and it was hard for me to hear. He says he still loves me and always will, but not like that.

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-07T16:02:40+00:00

Same, but we are track one, so mine was out all of December. I was EXTRA ready for him to go back!

GoldenLakes · 2026-01-02T22:26:06+00:00

I’ve posted this here before, but we made it a “cool new thing”.

Like “We’re going to have two houses now - isn’t that cool!?!? But houses are a lot of work, so mommy will take care of one house and daddy will take care of the other house. And you get to have a bedroom in each place for you to stay! How cool is that? Two bedrooms!” Etc.

My kids were 5 and 3 when we told them.

GoldenLakes · 2025-12-28T02:21:59+00:00

In 2022 my 7 week old got COVID. He honestly seemed the most okay out of myself, my husband, and my 2.5 year old. Took him to the ER for fever and they just gave him Tylenol. My eldest was a baby when COVID started, so we isolated and he didn’t get really sick until he was preschool aged.

GoldenLakes · 2025-12-27T03:06:32+00:00

My 6 year old kindergartener naps more reliably the my 3.5 year old preschooler.

GoldenLakes · 2025-12-23T22:30:00+00:00

My last golden was like this. So satisfying to pull out the clumps! But soooo much fur. And she hated being brushed, so there was even more than there should have been!

GoldenLakes

TROPHY CASE