Hi everyone,
Do you remember the baby birds that I spotted from my window at our new apartment? I was thrilled to witness their feedings and then their virgin flight, and within no time, I watched them venture further and further away, until like all children, they left to explore and enjoy their own lives.
Today, I spotted this bird on the post, and instantly attached my motherly, human emotions to it: "Oh, look how sad mom is, forlornly gazing at her empty nest", but then I looked a little closer...
Did you spot the new egg in there? Wow, nature move's fast!
So I climbed on a chair to look out the top of the window, and saw something else. This little fella looking for his next meal. (Sorry for the quality, but I took it from inside
Again, my "humaness" kicked in: "Hmmmm, what's that I see here?"
"I better make sure no one is looking."
I think that Momma must have sensed something amiss, because in no time, she was back!
And all the while, my little Buddy was intrigued, to say the least!
Which really does wear a little guy out :)
This got me thinking about a few different things:
What is the recent trend of parents not allowing or welcoming their own children to "leave the nest"? I always believed that my job as a mom was to prepare my children to leave home and then marvel in the awesomeness of their adulthood, all the while being able to enjoy those things in my life that I perhaps had put on hold. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved raising my boys, I spent piles of time and energy devoted to them, and I love them with all of my heart. But one of the true purposes of raising children, is to develop and rear healthy, respectful and genuine adult human beings, who will make the world a better place because of their existence. Not to continue parenting them for the rest of their or our lives. Is it just me who feels this way? Is there something wrong with my thought process? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
The other thing this bird-egg-gecko-Buddy made me think about is the idea that we all have a purpose in life, we all have our jobs to do, and it's not our job to judge the purpose of others. Of course there are obvious exceptions, but that's not what I'm refering to here. Is that gecko bad because he was going to eat a bird's egg? No, of course not. Am I glad he wasn't able to? Yes, I was thankful I didn't have to watch that, but let's face it, he's gotta eat too. Our world seems so full of judgement, full of those who believe their way is the only way, and everyone else needs to conform to their way of thinking. I wonder how that started? How does someone become this way? I was always taught to respect other people, and that includes their religion, ideas, thought processes or beliefs.
Lastly, I was reminded of the pure beauty in nature; and it's something that way too many forget about, or simply forget to look at. How lucky am I that I was in the right spot at the right time to watch baby birds be fed by their mother, to watch their virgin flight, to watch a new egg appear, to watch a gecko nearly eat that egg?! Everyday, I take the time to appreciate the birds and the trees out my window, the shape of the clouds, the dogs and cats on the street, the ocean breeze, the cool evening air, the smell of the flowers in the heat of the day. All of it and more. Our world is an amazing place, and we need to ground ourselves with this earth, and love and protect it, because it's the only one we have.
Cheers!
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Lynne, this is such a wonderful post. You bring up so many great questions about how we view our purpose and that of others. Thanks for getting me over here to take a look.
Thank you @energyaddict22! I appreciate that very much :)
awesome post babylooo. Buddy wants the bird, gecko wants the egg......now I know why we always wonder how the chicken crossed the road lol
hahaha you're silly :)
...but I love it!
all babylooo....its the most amazing posts that you come up with. murals. cool trees and just life....I love your posts
Thanks baby! Your posts aren't too shabby either :)
lol yes I can say though that your computer is getting worn out lol
I love the thought processes you've highlighted here! First, when you started, I was just thinking: Ohhh this is someone who is doing what I do, something others might think silly, but this is what adds colour to Life, I think... 😊 Second: One of the true purposes of raising children - to add value to the world not add trouble Third: Good thing that gecko didn't get the bird egg while you watched, but yeah everyone's gotta eat - think of the story from gecko's point of view... trying to avoid starving to death! Another sad story (horrors!) if that happened!!! Lastly: Yes, yes, yes ~ watch Life! I love noticing details that others "too busy" with their lives miss! How dull life must be for them... That's my take, in brief... Lol, I could go on and on... Cheers! Have a happy day!!
What an awesome comment!! I feel like we could be old friends in some past life, and we just ran into each other, recognized each other, and are breathless trying to say everything that is bubbling up inside!! :)
You have a happy day too...but I have a feeling you will :)
That's a really beautiful post about... life, and how everything somehow fits together. Observing life and wondering can be such a marvelous thing... the bird, the egg, the lizard, the cat... everything has its place, regardless of whether we agree with it. "When the lion eats the gazelle, it's bad for the gazelle, but good for the lion." Most things are simply "events," and the idea of good or bad are things we assign...
=^..^=
Thank you...that's it exactly! I appreciate your insight in all of this too :)
Our instinct is to want to keep that egg safe. It's hard to detach and look at nature just as it is, with compassion and without judgement. I really liked how you did that.
Although I am not a parent - I am a child, and an educator. I agree with your first point there.
In the cycle of life, we want to continue giving in such a way that our community, tribe, family - bring up individuals better than our past and our struggles, AND to equip them with enough strength, compassion, intellect and empathy to go out there and do the same - ensuring not survival, but an evolution to higher states of being and living.
Thank you so much for recognizing value in my post :) I was a teacher for years, and know all too well the effects of parenting; your description is absolutely perfect. Thank you for such a thoughtful comment!
Thank you. :)
Love your quote in your description. Means a lot to me at present....as Malaysia as a nation just experienced a coming together that created history.in our nation.
Made me smile to see that....beautiful reminder for me today. :)
That quote is so powerful, and I am pleased to see "proof" of it in the world :) Thank you!
Hey, Lynn!
Thanks for your beautiful Life affirming post. So many wise ones who came before us taught that studying nature reveals life success secrets and it's so true.
Thank you for sharing the secrets you are discerning from your slice of nature in Mexico with your Brian.
btw, LOVE your pictures. Feel right there.
Thank you @angelacs!
There's power in advancing and looking to the future, but we must also remember and look to our past for wisdom as well. Thank you for your kind words!
So great how you documented, in just 7 photos, the everyday drama of life that goes all around us, often unnoticed. By image #3, my mind was saying, 'please noooo!!!'. Glad there was a happy ending, at least for the bird.
A nice meditation on life purpose and non-judgement as well... Cheers!
Thank you so much @mmo-mmo! I appreciate it; my post did exactly what it was intended to do then :) I was thinking the same as I snapped the photos, actually, I think I was saying out lout, "please little fella, go get your food somewhere else" haha
Love the reflections on life inspired by nature that you captured in this post!
Thank you @grolelo! I've always felt that nature can teach we humans so much, if we only take the time to watch and listen ;) Thank you for stopping by ;)
What a beautiful thing to get to see and experience that with this mother bird and her babies. That is something most people never get to see like that in Nature.
Thanks for sharing @lynncoyle1 :)
Thank you @robertandrew ...if only everyone would just watch out for it a little more, but yes, I was very fortunate to be able to observe it. Thanks for popping by! :)
Such a wonderful article. Sometimes I observe Squirrels and birds and wonder how much struggle they undergo in their day to day life. The first problem is to get enough food to feed themselves and their young ones. The next big problem is to protect themselves from predators. Comparatively, we are a bit lucky compared to them. That's when I used to think that I should be helping other beings in every way possible.
And yet another perfect example of learning from animals and nature! Thank you ;)
It so amazing how you can appreciate simple things in life like that of the mother bird and co relate it in our daily lives. I have read sometime ago, that if we can experience this kind of things, the universe is telling us something, that there will be things that will make our day even in a simple way.
I believe the universe speaks to us daily, if only we are aware enough to really listen to it is an entirely different matter. Thank you so much for your comment :)
What a great little photo story! How cool that you witnessed that whole drama! Did the gecko just run away, or did the mom try to eat him?!
knew what would happen if he didn't :)Thank you so much @uniwhisp; I loved watching it unfold! The gecko took off running as soon as the mom landed there...I think he
I think you are right, that we should train and educate our children to to take flight of their own accord. I love my children, but I will be prouder when they learn to achieve their own success under their own power!
Nature is equal parts beauty and brutal!
Well said! I'm so proud each time I hear from my kids, and know that they are happy, stable and on their own :)
So true about nature too! It can be so brutal.
I don't have any kids but I think a parent's responsibilty is to raise a child who will become indpendent and responsible. Asking youngsters to help make this world a better place seems like a tall order to many nowadays. If they could not worsen, hurt and damage it would be a good start...
I agree! Just do your best is really all I every asked and continue to ask of my children. Thanks for stopping by :)
A great many people forget that they are a part of nature; that it is a separate thing entirely, and that means behaving in a manner that ignores and usually abuses the natural world.
By the same decision process, too many parents forget their ultimate responsibility of raising children: to prepare them for life outside the nest. The parent is so focused on the child that they forget their goal of turning the child into a capable fledgling and, through the "over parenting", keep the child in the nest until the fledging instinct dims. Parents get too focused and embedded in the process, and forget the goal.
My point exactly! I often find myself referring to Aboriginal culture when describing our "oneness" with nature as opposed to trying to figure out how to control or extort from it.
And yes, many parents seem to forget the "goal" of child-rearing.
Thanks for a thoughtful comment @willymac!
I love the pictures - especially including the gecko and your cat!
As for empty nesting and people putting it off... I suspect this may be a result of the increasingly small families we have. If all your "eggs" are in 2.1 baskets (and much of the West is below that now), it all ends very quickly. Whereas in the traditional home with children strung down the line (even four or five children are enough to do this) - the first one leaving isn't so scary - then, by the time the last one leaves, you're much better prepared emotionally. Sure, it's still going to be hard, but I suspect it's a little easier - especially if there are promises of grandchildren on the immediate horizon.
Anyway, philosophy by me, lol.
haha Philosopher Extraordinaire :) I can see your point, I was just never one to find it "scary" that they were leaving, and that may have been because I was anxious to have my time alone with Brian too ;)
Glad you enjoyed the pictures too!
You are so right when saying we have to be more grounded and to respect the earth.
I love that you are able to see life lessons through animals. So much to learn about them and from them.
May you feel peace with conflict arrives :)
Thanks @foxyspirit! I appreciate your commenting wisdom as always :) Animals can teach us so much if we take the time to listen and watch!
My main objective while we raised our two sons was to get them to the point that they would leave and go out on their own. In fact, it caused a little bit of friction with my wife from time to time who would question if I actually loved them or that I couldn't wait to kick them out of the house.
Well, I love them, and while there were times I would have preferred to have them out of my sight for a few hours, those kinds of feelings would subside and we'd get back to trying to prepare them for their future lives.
Well, since both of them were old enough to be out on their own, we've had both back and living with us at different times, with wives, and now a child. The time I get to spend with the granddaughter so close I don't think I would trade for anything, but I also know if they were living somewhere else I would honor that too (in other words, I wouldn't be rushing over to their house every day—that will be my wife).
re: everyone's got a job
Nature is set up on largely survival instinct. Furthering the individuals time for as long as possible, as well as the species. It's innate. It's programmed in to the creature.
Only humans to such a degree find ways to foul those basic instincts up, and then on top of it, place a moral judgment. The answer to that is, we all fall short, and outside of some criminal act, none of us have the ability to judge another person's life or actions. We can guess at them, and we can decide if that's behavior we want to be around, but when you're not perfect, you can't expect others to be at their best all the time, either.
I do have to point out, just because it's me, that you didn't "have" to see or do any of what you did. We all would have missed out on your adventure, and then your great telling of it, but you could have walked away.
Or maybe that's not in YOUR nature. :)
It's not in my nature to ignore that kind of thing. I'm so damn empathetic, that sometimes it difficult...I've checked that damn egg more than the mother bird I think!
I too was happy to see mine go, as much as I loved having them at home. When they left, we downsized so there simply wasn't room for them to return to :) I really miss them now though because it's been exactly one year this month not seeing them and that's way too long, but as my youngest said to me, "don't worry mom, you have a job there to do that's more important". They both understand completely, which does make it easier. It must be great being around your granddaughter though! My grandma always said the best part of being a parent was becoming a grandparent :)
Well, I would imagine you'll be getting your opportunities pretty soon.
You always hear about how much more fun it is to be a grandparent than a parent, and in a lot of ways it is. I have most of the perks and nearly zero the downside. However, to get to the grandparent stage, you do have to go through the parent level, and I don't think I would trade that now for anything in the world. As stressful as raising two boys could be, and everything that can accompany it, they've turned out pretty good I think. Still a little too Millennial for my taste at times, but better than many. I think eventually they'll be on their own and will have a decent foundation to make it after that.
And, the daughter-in-law has already said that the granddaughter isn't going to like it if they end up moving far away from Grandma, so they either need to stay close by, or take Grandma with them. I think that means I get to go, too. Maybe I should double check. 🤔
Lovely pictures, lovely story and lovely wisdom; you're absolutely right in my book! :-) Sometimes I want to just scream it:
Stop and take the time to be amazed by your existence!!...
Thanks so much, @lynncoyle1, for sparing my vocal cords! :-) <3
That's it!!! Why aren't people continually amazed by everything!!!
Nature is so awesome, and such a great teacher as well! I enjoy watching or taking pictures of birds and animals anytime I get a chance. Looks like the mother bird is keeping a good eye out!
That's so nice to hear! I've been seeing the mother bird regularly, so all is still well :) Thank you for stopping by!
yeah.. your post is very nice decorate . nice post friend
Thank you @ridoykhan22 :)
Very good post and excellent photos, congratulations. regards
Thank you @marcocarrasquel :)
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STOPThose pictures are amusing. We are in much accord. This is the third stimulating post in a row (ASAP, FP also).
Had a cat most of my life. Found a bird nest on a mountain peak. Why would someone not create a post upon seeing this. Boggles my feathers.