Peace in our time.
My room mate from college stopped by our house. It was the first time she has done so, and she brought her son: he likes animals, we have lots. Four separate species not including us humans, living under the same roof. She was enamored that all the critters got along so well. Of course I set a low bar, no one has killed anyone else. The two cats don't always get along, not for lack of trying. Our older cat, Fox, which regularly grooms the other cat, Mu and the dog, Bella. Mu might playfully, or not so playfully, try to take a bite of him but he persists. The cats do sleep with the dog, especially in the winter. The guinea pig hangs out with the rabbit when I clean either one's cage.
The reason for all the animals is to help Boo with social integration. I call animals, "friends-lite." They give feedback when noises are loud or the touch is rough but they are always his friends. They like to be petted, played with, and are always gentle with him. Through all the fur, hay, and other things less pleasant the animals have created a peaceful home and have taught TsukiMoon a lot.
All the animals have different needs require different things. Even the two cats require us to treat them with varying reverence. Fox is super old, 15, and walks like a old man. Everything we do with him is as gentle. Fox can't jump down well. TsukiMoon has learned to pick him up smoothly to move him off furniture. If Fox is on the bed he tenderly slides him to the side or gives him a ride to the floor. This geriatric care is important to learn because he needs to apply it to his grandparents.
The other animals cause an accession of other skills. Mu young and cantankerous needs space when he is in a mood. The dog, Bella, is a sleepy basset who only walks at her pace and can't be rushed. She also shows that you can't always get everything you want. She won't play in a way that he wants yet takes great pleasure to show her off at school. The guinea pig, Hamster Huey, is by far the easiest animal in the house. He is always cheery and gleeful to see you, he barks eager squeaks until you pet him. The rabbit, Arthur, is a French Angora, needs lots of grooming for him to look regal and not like one big clump of matted fur.
These strays teach TsukiMoon to accept differences and to approach them with contrasting paths. He also witnesses them compliant of each other even when they are so different. The dog will greet the cats when she get home, the guinea pig happily sleeps with the rabbit, and the dog and cats sniff the rabbit and guinea pig and are curious but don't eat them, Bella tries to play with Arthur. (I believe Mu is scared of Arthur even though he weights twice as much. Fox doesn't care.)
He has learned acceptance of others and even himself through the patience of the animals show him. The rabbit particularly have been good at this. TsukiMoon loved to would bring the Arthur up into his bed so that he could read to it. He would carry it around the house and snuggle it. Arthur put up with it all, never wanting to run out on him. If his touch wasn't quite right it's powerful legs would kick out, but Arthur would never bite. All this touch as helped Boo understand himself, his body, and how he touches others. It created a desire to do better because he likes them all so much.
Each of the creatures came from the SPCA or in the case of the cats, as abandoned kittens. Fox came from a dumpster in the Hudson Valley of New York State, Mu; a litter of strays living behind my uncle's house. This is important. How do you teach empathy? Cause him to feel empathy? He knows the dire situations from where the animals came from and except for Fox was there when we got them. TsukiMoon appreciates that not everything, and possibly indirectly, everyone, doesn't come from perfect situations but we accept them for what are and what they can give.
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