Jack Goes Feral

It has been a while and I recently found out from my good ole buddy Greg that some of you actually read this trash, so here goes another blog about life here in Africa.

Jack and his boy trying to get out

I have to say that bringing the dogs out with us to Africa has been one of the best decisions yet.  Jack used to tear up a little every time he saw a dog when we lived in Germany.  I have never seen a boy so attached to his dogs.  In fact, the first thing he says in the morning is “BOYS!! BOYS!!” (that is the name he uses for them since he hears me hootin an hollerin at em that way). 

It sounds cute for second, but read on. 

Jack’s schedule begins about 6am in the morning after he gets his morning wake-up milky expresso from mom.  Then he rolls out with me to go play only after he calls his boys and hugs and kisses each of them before he even acknowledges me.  Russell loves it, but Red usually looks disgusted by the whole thing. He has never been the cuddly type with Jack.

The must stop every grocery outing

Jack is really at the age now where he is watching and mimicking things we do.  It is great to watch him sound out words, say cheers and clink glasses, or do other cute little human things.  I have to say that it is far less cute watching him mimic some the dog’s nastiest habits.

Sure it was kind of funny watching him run around panting with his tongue hanging out his mouth, but things went a little too far a couple weeks ago.  Red had just snuck under the table where he enjoys eating table scraps or licking my toes.  I hate it when he licks my toes so I will often nudge him out or send him outside.  Russell doesn’t do that to me because he has respect and admiration for me.  Red just loves ticking me off.  Well, there I was eating my breakfast and it happens.  I send him outside and get back to eating.  Three seconds later it is happening again!! I give a shove and then I hear giggling…and there is Jack just under there licking my nasty toes like they are little lollipops with a mischievous look on his face.  I lost my cool and almost gagged on my chow! “Jack….WHY!!?”

Practicing civilized behavior

And the laughter began.  After effectively reinforcing his behavior by making it a game, he has made it a habit of chasing me around and licking me down thoroughly.  Of course this whole thing is MY FAULT since I don’t like my son licking me.  Jenn tells me I just shouldn’t react.  So I just let him do it and he almost gets an even bigger kick out of things.  Just licks the trash out of my face and I just sit there acting like everything’s normal (double-reinforcing it). Yup, I am sure it’s my fault he is going feral. My fault since I let him hang outside too much.  My fault for showing him how to wrestle the dogs.  My fault 'cuse I brought him to Africa.   

Well, I blame it on Jenn for not letting me cut the boys hair.  He pretty much looks like Mogley now (much to my chagrin).  In the end, it’s just another dang thing to add to our worries as we have to stop Jack from lapping any liquid up off the ground as if worrying about bleaching your produce and purifying the water wasn’t enough.