What have you learned from having bunnies?

[BinkyBunny]

So yes, we learn the normal stuff, diet, housing, etc.  But like with any animal (and children), they can challenge us, frustrate us, bring us joy.   What have you learned, or what has it brought to your life?

For me:
I learned that I thought I was a patient person, but really, I was delusional.         
Because when I was trying to bond two very dominant females,  I thought I was going to pull my hair out.   You’d think a stressful career, or just life could make you do that. Right? NO.  Bonding bunnies that don’t get along right away…now that is a life crisis.  LOL. 

But I learned that true patience isn’t about keeping calm on the outside but really actually being patient on the inside.  And that’s not an easy task for someone, like me, who didn’t have that already built in. 

Just takes tons and tons of practice.   And with my bunnies, there is no shortage of practice  time. 

And so far, with all this practice time, I actually find that it helps me deal with long lines, crazy traffic, rude people etc.

So has it brought anything to your life?  Doesn’t have to be a positive either, though that would be great.  I know that if you asked me before, while I was in the middle of learning , then I would have said that  I just learned that I was impatient and miserable about it! 

[Anita Stark]

It’s amazing that you posted this question today as I was just thinking about that on my way in to work this morning.

I think that having the bunny around has taught us to be gentler people. Not that we were raving maniacs before but he just seems to take the edge off whatever bad feelings might be lurking. Our routine with him makes us take time out no matter how we are feeling because he needs us. And when we take care of him he is so affectionate that we just melt and forget whatever was bothering us.

[Sarah Jones]

that they can in fact eat absolutely anything and still live to tell the tale…

[Elena Niznik]

That rabbits are complicated little critters that have a whole host of requirements!! as a result I have learnt that I am a "rabbichondriac" and bunny mad.

[Faye Perry]

If i’m totally honest we’ve had a really tough few years with ‘family issues’ (or should I say ‘non family issues’) and no matter how we’re feeling, having bun/s there takes your mind off these.  It has taught us that amongst some of the ‘bad #^$@!’ that happens to us in life there is still some little things that can make us smile, without even trying!  Being there no matter what, waiting for you to come along and rub their heads or tell them how pretty they are.

Its also taught us to express our feelings more, we don’t think anything of shouting that we ‘love them’ before we leave the house now, but thats not something I did when I left the house before!!

It really is quite amazing how much you can love these furry little things.. also how intelligent they can be.

I’m learning to be more patient, especially with this ‘bonding’ process. Sometimes I can’t see the end but these things are sent to try us and make us better people!  I’m not sure this is the first thing to go through my head when i’m pulling them apart and shutting them in their cages though!!

[alexa h]

I have learned to just kind of accept things as they happen. I realize she is just a bunny and not to get mad at her when she chews through the cell phone charger or makes the room messy. She is just being a bun!! It also teaches a great deal of responsibilty, almost like having a child! I enjoy taking care of her, even if means clenaing up all her messes and waking up in the middle of the night because she is being loud. Every time I look at her, I just get happy

[lilmizzsnickerz]

i have learned to be layed back  and my bunny meks me happy lol

[Hedi]

I have learned a lot from my buns.

The biggest thing is I have learned from buns is about forgiveness. Working with the shelter buns it just floors me that these animals can be abused and left for dead but given time and love they move on with their life. I dont know if they forget the bad but they learn to forgive and move on. One bun we have right now the family moved and left the bun in the empty house because they didnt want him anymore.

So sad. I am guessing he has spent his entire life in a cage because when I get him out to play he is very unsure of himself. But to me it just makes my day to get a binky from one of them.

My own rabbits have reminded me I need to work on patience. I am one of those people that  want everything "right now" and they have taught me to be more patient. And it makes it all more special when I have a rabbit crawl in my lap to be loved on.

[osprey]

We just took in  four buns who were left behind without food and water when their owners moved, so I know how frustrating it is, Hedi.

As to what I have learned, I am always amazed at how attached to each other a bonded pair (in our case trio) can become.  Seeing them interact is very touching.

[Hedi]

You know, I have had a lot of other pets in my lifetime but I absolutely adore my rabbits. If I am not with them then I am wondering what they are doing. I have never been so attached to any animal like I am my rabbits.

When we go on vacation I drive my husband crazy talking about the rabbits. My mom in law bunny sits so they are in good hands but no one can take care of them like their momma. lol

[dmh426]

Being single and 27, and currently the only granddaugher out of 15 who is over the age of 22 and unmarried, I’ve learned that I don’t need anyone in my life to fill a void for love. I have my bunny. Honestly, when I walk in the door at night, I know that something is happy to see me and is glad that I am home. I’ve learned that I can’t imagine not having her and she’s taught me about love, trust and at one point in my life (after a break up with my fiance) she was the only thing that got me out of bed and going. I had to feed her. Her cage needed to be changed. I would have spent the first week of the breakup in my bed, but I had a 4 pound bunny depending on me and I had to go to the grocery and pet store for provisions. Sounds kinda weird, but I learned how to persevere.

[Hedi]

My rabbits have helped me thru a lot too. I quit my job back in December due to chronic migraines. I have migraines all day every day. I have had them for ten years but this past year has just been horrible. It got to the point that If I got out of bed I would lay on the couch all day and then back to bed. Long story short I had to go to Cleveland Clinic for treatment. I am so much better and in the past few months I have felt great.

I wouldnt trade the past 6 months for anything. I hated I was in pain and sick but I spent all my time with my rabbits. I also have chronic insomnia so I cant sleep on my own. There were times I was up most of the night and I would spend it with my rabbits. I would just sit in their bedroom on the floor. Petting them thru their cages and talking with them.

My rabbits have been amazing therapy for me. For awhile there I was so tired of hurting and the pain I didnt want to live anymore. I have a great husband and only been married for 2 years but the pain was just so overwhelming. But my rabbits always reminded me that they loved me. My husband was great but there is just something about a furry bunny that doesnt have to love you but does anyways.

I am finally to the point I can return to work but only part time. But I will miss my buns. We have a perfect schedule worked out and I love spending the day with them. The days I feel bad my rabbits sense it and they take time out of their busy day of playing and bunny 500’s to come and say hi and sit with me awhile. And that just means the world to me.

I love my bunnies!

[poopy]

I learned that all the stereotypes about the domestic rabbit (hutch, crazy potty habits, dumbness) that I had before were all WRONG! This is why it is important to educate others about rabbits & the importance of NEUTERING & SPAYING.

[Spacehopper]

Wholeheartedly agree with the patience comments. In fact i found a picture up in my parents loft sunday from an ex’s mum, chinese symbol for “patience” as i was known to have none! But having animals tends to involve the need for lots of patience, time, and understanding, and the need for an ability to take the time to consider & be aware of the feelings of our little furry babies, and to take time developing a bond with them. I used to do what i wanted, when i wanted, with no real regard for others (or myself) (the breakup was not a good one but thankfully you live & learn), now I find myself saying “We’d better get home, Brian’ll be lonely” lol
He also has a habit of calming me down if I’m upset, angry, stressy blah blah, and knows just how to put a smile on my face. Not like the boyfriend, “What’s the matter with YOU, why are you so…” lolol

[Deleted User]

ive learnt that if i ever have children ive got to be a stronger, stricter, firmer mummy! lol!

[Spacehopper]

Bear, funny you mentioned that.. I’ve also learnt that my boyfriend would be a useless parent and if i want kids, i’d have to do it all!!! lol

[skunklionshow]

We had "hutch" bunnies when I was growing up.  I’ve come to terms w/ my lack of knowledge/ families lack of knowledge about house bunnyhood.

I’ve learned:

1.  There is always more to learn. 

2.  Not all bunnies are sweet little nestlers, that you can cuddle w/ on the couch.

3.  They have such individual personalities.  All of our bunns have such different personalities.  Leo the Lionhead is really a gentle lamb of a bunny that loves giving kisses and getting pets.  Trigger has no fear.  He goes anywhere, everywhere, anytime he wants.  Oreo likes the freedom to hope around at her leisure and kick back for naps under the desks.  Jessica is a very feisty independent little lady.

[MooBunnay]

The most fantastic thing I learned from my bunnies is that I learned what I am really passionate about.  All through college I was very frustrated because so many people seemed to know just what they wanted to do with their lives, and how to find fulfillment, but I had no idea! Until one day I went to the shelter that my little Juli was from and found so many other animals in need.  Helping animals brings me a happiness that I NEVER found before in anything I have done (wellll I work in corporate finance, perhaps not the most rewarding job in the first place, haha). Now I know what I am working towards in my life, and what makes me happy, and have been able to really focus my priorities in life.

Of course, thing number two I have learned is that one bunny always leads to TWO..or THREE…even when the buns are fixed (as they always should be of course!)

[Hedi]

You know MooBunnay you hit it on the head…I never realized what I was passionate about until the shelter…

I have been an RN for about 6 years now and it is such a political world, people are mean, patients are mean, doctors and other nurses are mean, etc. I worked in our ER as a case manager for one year without a social worker so I had to play that role too. Dealt with a lot of uninsured patients, homeless, etc. I saw a lot of people that needed help and we gladly gave it and then a lot of people that felt they were owed something. I got to the point I hated nursing.

I never expected to enjoy working at the shelter. I can honestly say that nursing was never as rewarding as working with the bunnies. The bunnies didn’t ask to be in the shelter, they dont know why they are even there and they are at our mercy.

So, now I drive my husband and family crazy talking about bunnies. I was crazy before with my own two but after going to the shelter and working then adopting Cooper I have drove everyone crazy. Everyday I talke about how much I luv my own buns and my shelter buns.

[BinkyBunny]

Holy Toledo, I wrote alot.  Well, get a cup of tea and listen to my rambings if you care.    If not, move on like any other sane person would.  : O

Hedi – You’ll find there’s BS and political stuff that happens higher up in the shelter.   It never seems to escape even non-profits, but there is something about working with animals that makes that stuff much easier to deal with.  Maybe because if you find someone or some policy to be idiotic, you can just hang out with the animals for a bit, and they relieve stress.  Being around animals and petting them actually can decrease blood pressure. 

But I hear ya about stressful jobs!  I’m sure yours as an RN is more stressful than mine was, but I had a stressful career as a local producer/writer, and after 13 years I dropped the producer part.  It just wasn’t for me personally.  Some people are wonderful at it and can stay calm in a crisis.  I can externally, but internally I’d be freaking out, so that type of  career wasn’t a good match for my temperament. 

I never meant to be a producer, I just got thrown into it after my internship at a TV station.  So I just went with it. but I hated it so much, and felt like I was going to screw up at any second. Screw ups could mean tons of money lost! And as a producer, you take the heat (you also take the praise) but there was always the threat of things going terribly wrong…ALWAYS! (and this was just local piddly nothin’ special poop, but everyone acted as if they were so special)  And having to be hyper aware all the time just wasn’t for me.

Finally to help relieve my tension I just started volunteering with rescue groups, humane society and shelters.  And then, just a little over year ago, I started doing BinkyBunny as a side thing.  Finally when my life was filled with more fun things that I enjoyed, producing became such a huge thorn in comparison, that I made the leap and just dropped producing out of my life.

So now when people call me to do a freelance job,  I say I will write, but no longer produce. (unless it’s a real easy thing without a full crew, a couple days shoot max, then maybe I’ll do it!)  But other than that I just have zero interest.   I’ve made financial sacrifices.   I used to have "play" money that I could just waste, and I don’t miss it at all,. because now I have a life that’s just fun to live rather than finding things to buy to make it fun – it’s a huge blessing.  

My husband has also changed his life to have more fun. Instead of being stuck with a 9 -5 architecture firm, he’s a freelance architect, and he is working on his own online business too that has to do with racing (speedreg.com)  So now, our days are flexible and we are more free. For the most part, unless, something calls for it, we can sleep in, take a long lunch break, take a walk by the ocean whenever.  We don’t have a daily 9-5 stuck somewhere, we just have to get our work done within that day, but we can divide up the working hours however.  I prefer to work-work in the evenings.  Now that both of us are following more of what makes us happy.  Life is grand.

P.S. (like this post needs to be ANY longer…but anyway…The other day, while I was at the vet, I saw a director that used to work at the TV station. He’s now retired.  I looked down and saw he had a bunny.  He said he adopted a bunny three years ago and now can’t imagine his life without one.   

There’s just somethin’ about bunnies that make the world a better place.

[Hedi]

It’s kinda funny because I have always loved cats specifically and then dogs. Growing up I wasnt interested in rabbits though we did have a full grown lop for a short while. All I care about at the shelter is my bunnies being taken care of and if that means me having to buy their hay and food so they are taken care of then I will do it. I know there is political crap there too but as long as my bunnies are taken care of I dont mind. But I will fight for them if I need to. And thankfully the local rabbit society said they will help however they can.

 I am looking for a job just working 2-3 days a week so I can spend time with my shelter buns. Plus my own buns being home all day we have a schedule and I will miss them horribly going back to work. My husband works as a Network Engineer contracting at a bank and then also works remotely for Alaska Pacific University. He will have to make a trip to Alaska once or twice a year and I have already found a bunny rescue near the school! I told him I will work with the bunnies while he is at work.

I think even if we had children the bunnies would still be a huge part of my life. I talk about them nonstop, worry about them when I am not home and love to just sit and watch them at night. My mother in law talks about our buns all the time and luvs to bunnysit. She even has pics of them on her fridge. Working full time I feel I missed so much and now I finally have the opportunity to slow down work less and spend more time doing what I love. Because I have chronic migraines it is considered a disease and very hereditary which makes having children a huge decision. I have suffered for the past 10 years and wouldnt wish that on anyone so if i passed it on that would be a huge guilt thing for me.  We still havent really decided about kids or no kids and since I am 28 years old I feel my window of child bearing is closing and we need to decide in the next few years. But I do know that if we decide not to have children I will always have a full life with my bunnies. As silly as this sounds they complete what I need. I dont feel I need anything else to make me happy. My hubby and my buns are all I need.

[cookie627]

i have learned to be more patient and more forgiving.

[Author]

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