Yahoo Lifestyle Mom Defends Viral Rant Admitting Feelings for Her Dogs Changed After Kids: 'My Children Need Me More' (Exclusive)
TikTok creator Madison Barbosa tells PEOPLE that her parenting priorities have not made her a worse dog owner
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Stock image of mother playing with children while sitting on floor.TikTok creator Madison Barbosa received backlash from viewers after opening up about how she struggles to balance raising toddlers with caring for dogs
In her original video, Barbosa explained that she and her husband adopted the dogs before they had children. Now that she's a mom of two young kids, she finds pet ownership to be "so overstimulating"
According to Barbosa's claims in a second video posted over a month later, some critical viewers threatened Barbosa and accused her of wishing her dogs would die
Madison Barbosa isn't afraid to admit when she's in the dog days of parenthood.
The TikToker opened up to her followers about the difficulties of raising toddlers and caring for three dogs simultaneously. In a three-minute TikTok video posted last month, Barbosa explained that she and her husband got their pets — two Australian shepherds and one 100-pound Alapaha blue blood bulldog — before they welcomed kids together.
Prior to becoming parents, they had little issue looking after the dogs on their nearly two-acres of land at home. However, now that she's a mom of 1-year-old son Beckham and 2-year-old daughter Rose, Barbosa said she finds the balance between kids and pets to be "so overstimulating."
"I'm not saying I dream about their death. I love them," the social media creator said in her TikTok post, which has reached over 660,000 viewers on the app. "But I dream about the idea of not having dogs in my house anymore while also having two animals that I birthed. F---ing tired of these dogs, man."
Barbosa continued, "And I know you're thinking, 'Why did you get dogs if they were just gonna be replaced with your children?' Do you think that I thought this was gonna happen? Of course I didn't. My dogs were my everything before I had kids."
In anticipation of mixed responses to her video, Barbosa shared her solidarity with those in agreement and responded to those who opposed her complaints.
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Stock image of toddlers playing with dog.Related: Couple Marries After Both Losing Spouses to Cancer, Then Welcomes 'Unexpected Miracle' (Exclusive)
"For anyone that's like, 'I love my dogs. I love them as much as my children, they're part of our family,' " she said, questioning, "If there was a house fire, and you only had time to grab your kids or your dogs, who you grabbing? I'll leave it at that."
Over a month later, Barbosa revisited the topic to address the many negative replies that compelled her to disable comments on the original video. In a follow-up TikTok posted last week, Barbosa shared that she had no plans to delete the actual rant about her dogs.
"I stand by the video. I think it's f---ing funny, and if you don't, then that's on you," she said in her recent response. "The comments are turned off because there are keyboard warriors out there, true psychopaths with mental issues, wishing death upon my children, and that's something I don't stand for."
In a statement to PEOPLE, Barbosa reiterates how she prioritizes her kids over her pets.
"At the end of the day, my children are my world and my pets are a part of it," she says. "Honestly, if a pet owner can’t recognize the heartbreaking yet true fact that our day to day tasks and responsibilities lighten when our animals have ran their little race here on earth, I’m concerned about the level of care you’re giving your animals."
During her original TikTok video from June, Barbosa listed some parts of her daily life that would be easier if she didn't devote so much time to dog care.
"Just think about how nice it must be to put your children to sleep and then not have to f---ing deal with your dogs," Barbosa continued. "Or wake up in the morning and make yourself coffee without having to chase your f---ing hundred-pound bulldog so that he doesn't eat his s--- anymore."
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Stock image of mom caring for toddlers.She bemoaned the fact that the family is "only halfway" through canine care, based on the dogs' ages. But she followed with a disclaimer: "You don't need to call PETA or anything, okay? My dogs are taken care of ... I'm just f---ing complaining."
To PEOPLE, Barbosa adds, "I absolutely do not condone animal abuse or violence; I love my doggies very much, and I will spoil them rotten until their last breath, but it absolutely is a lot of work! Recognizing our load gets lighter when our homes become pet free does NOT mean I wish death on them or am counting down the days. It simply means my children quite literally NEED me more and while I prioritize my care for my HUMAN children, that does not mean my doggies are not loved and cared for.”
Barbosa elaborated on her perspective in July, when she shared the second video in defense of her original point. She stated that though she loves her animals, she would not "give her life" for them as she would for her toddlers.
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"In the hierarchy of a home, it is completely valid and normal for your children to come before your animals," the parent said in her TikTok, which earned over 124,000 likes in the first three days. "If you're putting your dogs before your human children, I'm sorry but we have nothing in common. Nothing."
Lastly, Barbosa implored critics to rewatch her original video.
"I specifically say I am not dreaming of their death. I am simply recognizing that this is a s---load of work. And yeah, I signed up for it, which is why I'm doing it to my best f---ing capability," she said. "I am literally just recognizing the fact that when [the dogs] are no longer here on Earth, my day-to-day tasks, my daily responsibilities, is going to significantly lighten."
"I wouldn't be able to say that there's gonna be some relief whenever they're not here if I didn't take good care of them," Barbosa concluded. "No one is out here actually wanting them to die. Get a f---ing grip, people."
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