MOESBURG, Ok. —

When local married couple Brian and Jenna Culpepper’s only child, Madison, said she wanted a sibling, they were faced with a dilemma. 

“Just between us, I can’t take another one of those,” Brian said. “It’s hard enough raising one little money-sucking machine. My sanity and my wallet can’t take another one.” 

“I’ve had postpartum depression for 9 years,” said Jenna. “And my figure hasn’t looked the same since I gave birth. Imagine what another 8-pound lump inside of me would do.” 

“So we sat down with Madison and had a little talk,” said Brian. “We told her, like, sometimes you regret a decision you make, and um, we don’t want to do that… again. And we talked about financial stuff, and how a baby would affect her, like with all the crying and the diapers, and how she might have to miss sleepovers and soccer practice because of the baby. And I think she understood. She just asked for a dog. And, I mean, after such a huge blow to a 9-year-old, how can you say no?” 

“I actually didn’t want a sibling,” admitted Madison. “I really wanted a dog, but I knew that my parents would rather have a dog than another me, so it was kind of a bargain.”