Carolyn Holm

Dear Poppy,
We need to have a talk.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I love our talks!!!!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
We need to talk about the barking.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Barking is hugely important. 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy
Once in a while. A lot of the time it is hugely annoying.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
It’s how I protect you!!!!! You need to be notified!!!!!!! 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Let’s talk about just what actually needs notification. So, for starters, keep on with the barking if someone approaches our front door. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Yes!!!!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
But when we are trying to talk with them, you can stop. And definitely stop when we invite them in.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
But the barks keep coming out.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s what needs to stop. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
That sounds like a bad rule. 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It’s a good rule. Always, if it’s my rule, it’s a good rule.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
What about the back door?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Same rules apply. And, by the way, the postman doesn’t count. He comes by every day. You don’t need to let us know. But deliveries, ok, let us know.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Got it.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Finally, you don’t need to bark every time someone with a dog walks past. Everyone in Berkeley has a dog. And they all seem to walk past our door.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
We live in a great neighborhood for walking!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
We do indeed. But you don’t have to bark at the dogs.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
What if I just bark when it’s a dog l I know personally?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Are you counting dogs you’ve never actually met, but you’ve smelled their markings on our walks?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Of course!!!!!!!! That’s how I know them!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s what I figured. How about we limit it to the dogs you know personally, dogs that you’ve actually met? Spencer, Daisy, Kody, Rosie… well not Rosie, she’s your arch enemy.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I MUST bark at the enemies! 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Ok, fine, how about you can bark for a short time to announce friendly dogs, and maybe for a little bit longer for the arch enemies. But please, knock off the barking every time someone with a dog simply walks within a block of our house.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
What about someone walking a cat?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
No one in our neighborhood walks their cat.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom
It could happen. 
XOXO Poppy

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