Life lessons from my puppy!?

Today was a good day.  Kids were out of school for President's Day and my principle let us just have a "work day."  This means teachers get to work in their rooms...it was nice to have the time to prepare for the week.  Anyway, it was a nice break from having the usual 19 inquisitive 6-7 year olds on a Monday!  Michael had to go to work at his school and then after a full day of meetings he had to attend a Gifted and Talented training!  (right up the coach's alley!)  Anyway, following his GT meeting, he then went to meet with the other men leaders of our church to discuss some upcoming events.  All of this to say...I was home alone with our almost one year old mini-beagle, Mattie.  The interesting thing about Mattie is that when Michael is home she is a perfect angel of a dog.  She lays around and chews on things and even will curl up in your lap and fall asleep.  When Michael is not home....Mattie is INSANE!!  She will not listen to me and she is so bad!  She likes to get flip flops in her mouth and run around the apartment.  She barks, she howls, she runs really fast...and I can't catch her.  I am the passive parent who has not been stern enough with our dog...so now...she takes advantage of me!  Will this be how my kids are with me?  Do I need to be more stern with my dog and later with my kids?  Am I really a total pushover?  All of these questions because of a dog!  It really makes me wonder what parenting one day will be like!  

So for now, until I have kids to gush about and ask questions about...I will use my puppy!  :)  One of my spiritual gifts is mercy...Michael and I balance each other well...which is a cool thing about marriage...I guess I just wonder how God will mold me and shape me in the years to come so that I can be a merciful, loving, and effective parent...not a "pushover" who gets taken advantage of.  Your thoughts are welcome!