We have all heard the saying for years, “Make sure you get a dog when you have teenagers. This way someone in the house will always be happy to see you.” It goes something like that, and I can tell you from firsthand experience that it is true. I have no idea who came up with it, but it really should be a public service announcement.

I have two. Teenagers, that is. Yes, I also have a dog. Thank God. I remember when my teenage girls were cute. It’s not like they are ugly now or anything. In fact, they are both quite beautiful young women. But, they definitely are not cute. Now, instead of big, sweet, brown eyes staring back at me, they’re rolling them back in their heads. Guess who still has big, sweet, brown eyes that stare at me with love and affection? Yep, Cocoa. She looks at me with those eyes and still makes me melt…sigh. Instead of me being the coolest thing since sliced bread to my girls, I make them cringe just by being near them. Guess who never criticizes my outfits? Yep, Cocoa! In fact, I imagine Cocoa thinks I look amazing every day. Instead of jumping at the chance to go somewhere fun with me, my teenagers need to make sure a friend can come. Not Cocoa! If she gets to go for a ride in the car with me, she certainly would never want another doggie stealing my attention. I love going for walks around our picturesque neighborhood. When I ask who wants to go, I only ever get one taker. I’ll give you a hint. It’s not a teenager.

Teenagers don’t listen. We all already know that fact. When you annouce dinner is ready, they are upstairs in their rooms and don’t hear you. They come down later asking why you never told them there was food. Guess who is always ready to eat dinner? Yep, once again, it’s my Cocoa Bear! Usually, even when teenagers are next to you, their attention is too busy looking at a device, so they barely hear you anyways. Guess who doesn’t have a phone or an ipad? Yep, Cocoa! I mean, Cocoa will watch TV with me, but usually just for the snuggles.

There are plenty more reasons why dogs are better than teenagers. Dogs don’t leave their dishes in the sink. Dogs don’t leave food wrappers on the couch. Dogs don’t forget to flush the toilet. Dogs don’t leave their shoes in front of the doorway when they walk in the house so everybody trips on them. Dogs never tell you they hate what you made for dinner. Dogs never steal your eyelash curler or tweezers or nail clippers. Dogs never lie about stealing your eyelash curler or tweezers or nail clippers. Dogs don’t tell their younger brother he is stupid. Dogs don’t buy things on Amazon under your account. Dogs don’t overfill the trashcan because they don’t want to take out the trash. Dogs don’t take two towels for every shower and then leave them on their bedroom floor.

My girls are currently 16 and almost 15. I know each stage they go through doesn’t last forever. I know we should savor each and every day. This stage, however, will not be one I will be sad to see go. I am just sayin’… I do miss when they were cute. I am happy they are smart, athletic, kind (mostly), funny, and well-rounded. I am just looking forward to a time when maybe they’ll be neat and respectful again. I tell them all the time: they were neater, more respectful, and far more helpful when they were 7 and 9 than they are now. Sad, but true. This does give me hope though. Those sweet, helpful little girls are still in there somewhere, buried under the teenage hormones and angst and struggles for independence. They will come back. I have hope. They will eventually think I’m cool again. I mean, I am very cool. Everybody else knows it, especially my 8 and 11 year old sons. I’m enjoying them while I still can.

Until they do come around, I will be sitting here on the couch, snuggling my Cocoa, watching Scooby-Doo (her favorite), and thinking about the dogs I’ll need to get for my teenagers someday around the time their kids start turning 11 or 12.