I don’t know why this is bothering me so much, but it is.
Last year, we went all out for Daisy’s birthday.
A cake, decorations, little party hats, even some friends bringing their own dogs over for a “party.” It was ridiculous and adorable. She was so happy, running around with her tail wagging, eating her special dog cake like she had just won the lottery.
We took a ton of pictures, posted them online, and laughed about how we had officially become “those” dog owners.
And then this year came.
And we… forgot.
Not intentionally. Not maliciously. Just… life happened.
Work got busy. We’ve been stressed about money. A hundred little things filled up our schedule, and before I knew it, the day had passed.
I don’t even remember when it hit me. Maybe when I saw the date on my phone. Maybe when I was scrolling through old photos and saw the ones from last year.
But when I realized it… my heart sank.
Daisy had no idea.
She didn’t wake up expecting a party. She didn’t stare at the calendar, waiting for us to acknowledge it.
She just lived her day like any other, wagging her tail, bringing us her toys, waiting patiently for dinner.
And I? I felt like the worst person in the world.
It’s not just about the birthday. It’s about what it represents.
Last year, she was everything to us.
This year, she was just… there.
Still loving us, still excited to see us, still looking at us with those big, trusting eyes like we hung the moon.
And we? We had moved on to other things.
When did that happen? When did she become an afterthought?
I sat with her that night, scratching behind her ears, trying to push down the guilt in my chest.
She leaned into me like she always does, happy just to be there.
No grudges. No resentment. No expectations.
Just love.
And that broke me even more.
So now I’m sitting here, staring at the old birthday photos, wondering how to make it up to her.
Not with a late cake or some rushed celebration.
But with more time. More belly rubs. More walks. More us.
Because the truth is, Daisy didn’t forget her birthday.
She just noticed we weren’t around as much.
And maybe that’s what hurts the most.