Mean Girl Hen hatched two diddles yesterday -- one yellow and one black and yellow. From their little combs, I think they are both hens. Anyhow, MGH, who is one mean gal on the nest, is a terrible Mum. She didn't worry with the little ones, taking them out into the bad weather (wind and sprinkles) and then digging holes and kicking the diddles in and then out of them! The poor little guys would go flying this way and that, head over tea cups, crying and fussing all the way.
The Mister and I watched for a few minutes and then made the decision: they were coming inside. I was their Mum now. We scooped them up; the yellow one was nearly gone from the cold and abuse. I tucked them into my shirt next to my body while I finished feeding the goats while the Mister rounded up the feeder, water, and light and carried them to the kitchen.
I located a small box and in they went. The little black one ran around, tested the water, pecked at the feed, while peeping Quite Loudly all the way. The little yellow one stood and rocked. I picked her up, blew warm air from my mouth on her until she quit shaking and then put her back the box. She rocked some more. I think now that she was consoling herself.
Soon, she jumped on the edge of the watering dish and had a little sip. And another. And another. The black one joined her, chortling all the time, as if she were encouraging her sister to drink up and live. As I had no chick feed, I crumbled up whole wheat biscuits and cornmeal for them. They ate Every Bite and asked for more. At 5:30 this morning, they were both scurrying around the box, gathering bits of food, and singing, as only chicks do, at the top of their lungs.
Lesson? One doesn't have to give birth to be a good mum or, I could argue, I am one Darn Good Hen...
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
One Day Closer....
... to spring. It was a balmy 41-degrees here today. The sun shone all day. And, the moon is out tonight, accessorized by lots of shimmering stars. A perfect night.
The Airman left yesterday after a lovely two weeks home with us.
When he was just new, I told Mother that I had learned a little something about how God worked.
"It's like this," I explained. "God gives a child a little tiney hole in their heart that only a Mother has the key to that will make the child feel guilty."
She agreed.
"But," I added, "He also left a hole so our hearts aren't filled unless they are in it."
She smiled. "Welcome to motherhood."
I've thought of that a lot today. My son is nearly 30 and, yet, he is still my heart. I miss him when he is gone, but I understand he has a path to follow. I just wish it weren't so far away. In March he will finish Tech School and be awarded his 'crab' -- a very high honor. And, then, he will pack his duffle and head 22 hours overseas -- 14 hours time difference -- to pursue his next challenge.
Why didn't someone tell me that being a Mum meant I had to let go?
The Airman left yesterday after a lovely two weeks home with us.
When he was just new, I told Mother that I had learned a little something about how God worked.
"It's like this," I explained. "God gives a child a little tiney hole in their heart that only a Mother has the key to that will make the child feel guilty."
She agreed.
"But," I added, "He also left a hole so our hearts aren't filled unless they are in it."
She smiled. "Welcome to motherhood."
I've thought of that a lot today. My son is nearly 30 and, yet, he is still my heart. I miss him when he is gone, but I understand he has a path to follow. I just wish it weren't so far away. In March he will finish Tech School and be awarded his 'crab' -- a very high honor. And, then, he will pack his duffle and head 22 hours overseas -- 14 hours time difference -- to pursue his next challenge.
Why didn't someone tell me that being a Mum meant I had to let go?
Friday, December 18, 2009
No one told me
When I became a Mum, no one told me that I would be one FOREVER!!! Yes, yes, I knew that I would be a "mum" forever. What I didn't know was that I would worry forever!
My son is 27; he is in leaving for Air Force explosive devise training in February. He has lived away from home for eight years, until the past six months while waiting to leave for Texas. He is a free man. He is an adult. He is going to dismantle bombs, for goodness sake.
So, why is it that when he got in my ancient truck (it is older than he by almost ten years!) and took off to spend the weekend with a buddy 50 miles away that I got nearly sick? Could it be that we are forecasted to have between one and two feet of snow??
My son was hard to come by. I was nearly 28 when he was born and he is the only baby I carried to term. He was a very sickly little boy and had gamma globulin shots twice a week for the first two years of his life. During the first six months of his life, he had the diagnosis of cystic fibrous, but it ended up that he had terrible food allergies. The pediatrician had him nurse until he was nearly three; I thought I was always going to have an appendage. Then, amazingly, he outgrew all of it and flourished. He has been sick twice since he was three. He has only had one accident involving an emergency room visit. In short, he is blessed and so am I.
He is smart enough to know to stay in. He will. I imagine he will shoot pool, lift weights, cook, and drink beer. These are his favorite things, next to chasing women. He is 27 and these are things that 27-year-old single men do. I understand that. But, why do I feel the need to protect him? Will I be one of those moms who cries the whole time he is gone in service? Geez. I have to get a grip.
In the meantime, the snow is falling and I am worrying and pondering the weirdness of motherhood.
My son is 27; he is in leaving for Air Force explosive devise training in February. He has lived away from home for eight years, until the past six months while waiting to leave for Texas. He is a free man. He is an adult. He is going to dismantle bombs, for goodness sake.
So, why is it that when he got in my ancient truck (it is older than he by almost ten years!) and took off to spend the weekend with a buddy 50 miles away that I got nearly sick? Could it be that we are forecasted to have between one and two feet of snow??
My son was hard to come by. I was nearly 28 when he was born and he is the only baby I carried to term. He was a very sickly little boy and had gamma globulin shots twice a week for the first two years of his life. During the first six months of his life, he had the diagnosis of cystic fibrous, but it ended up that he had terrible food allergies. The pediatrician had him nurse until he was nearly three; I thought I was always going to have an appendage. Then, amazingly, he outgrew all of it and flourished. He has been sick twice since he was three. He has only had one accident involving an emergency room visit. In short, he is blessed and so am I.
He is smart enough to know to stay in. He will. I imagine he will shoot pool, lift weights, cook, and drink beer. These are his favorite things, next to chasing women. He is 27 and these are things that 27-year-old single men do. I understand that. But, why do I feel the need to protect him? Will I be one of those moms who cries the whole time he is gone in service? Geez. I have to get a grip.
In the meantime, the snow is falling and I am worrying and pondering the weirdness of motherhood.
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