Tuesday 16 October 2012

Ducklings Hatch, then go missing!

I have so much to write about,

 but for today I think I will let you wander with me in my random thoughts as I awoke this fine misty morning. It is still dark and 5:30 am.

Our female duck has for the past weeks been sitting on three eggs.
We didn't really think she would be able to coax a duckling or two out of this egg, as our male duck we were told was infertile.
A week ago today our sweet little ducklings were born. This event on our little acreage has brought much joy to each and every family member.

Have you ever witnessed the beautiful fuzziness of a newly hatched duckling, or nuzzled it's wee bill with your nose. OK probably not, I admit I did. Here are some pictures

darn cant rotate the picture.

Yesterday was a blustery, wind whipping your hair around kind of day. As you can imagine the ducklings have had quite a bit of attention.
Little miss would pick them up and pet their soft fuzziness. But surprisingly it was my oldest daughter who held the most fascination.
She was the gal who held faith that the ducklings were indeed going to hatch. Throughout the weeks she would fed the lone mama duck as she sat on her eggs. She went faithfully every day to sit with the momma and keep her company, she was the one to here the first cheeping of the babies.

This is our first birth on our "little" "farm" so it is with sadness that I must confess the ducklings are missing.

Mamma duck was such a good mom, she would take them out, and around the yard closly watching them to ensure they followed. We noticed something slowly happening though over the last week. with all the attention our wee friends were recieving mama was loosing intrest in where her little ones were.
We found a duckling wandering by its self here or there, Momma waddling away form the babies faster than they could keep up. We laminated over this yesterday, thinking about whether we should keep them safe in the brooder with the chicks, or continue to let mama try to do her job.

So last night in the pouring rain we went to put the animals away to find the ducklings missing. Of course we serched high and low the whole family looking, but It was dark and raining and after about an hour we gave up.
I awoke this morning thinking about that, I know I think waaaaayyyyy too much, but could this very thing be happening to us?

Let me explain, could our society the way it is right now be doing the very same thing?
Could we be giving over our wee ones to others to raise, in day care, in schools, to the T.V. do we as parents begin to loose intrest when this happens?

OK before you get your knickers in a knot, I was just thinking about it and have not fully processed this idea quite yet. I have not lost my mind, and have not become some "radical"

But really think over it your selves, let me know what you come up with. Perhaps it is really just a natural progression, of children growing up and away from their parents? or perhaps it is our maternal desires getting washed away by the worlds view of "parenting". Oh dear, don't rant when you reply, OK?

Just a random mussing to get you thinking, I am not sure either way and it is only 6 am, so don't send hate mail quite yet, but do leave me a message and let me know what you think.

Matthew 25:40 

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Psalm 127:1-3 

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 comments:

  1. sorry to hear about the ducklings!

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  2. Good morning Tanya! Nice to see that other people are up as early as I am. So sorry the ducklings went missing. So regarding your question: Do we give our children up to school, TV, daycare etc.? I think some parents do. Not intentionally, but I see it happening where both parents are working and when they come home with the kids at night they are to tired to get involved. The kids go from school to after school care to TV/computer and to bed. I can see how it's easier than making the effort to get involved. It is up to us parents to make the effort and to always communicate with the people that are with our children (teachers, daycare providers, etc.) And in the light of recent events I think it is so so so important that parents are involved, listen and talk to their children. And that doesn't mean always being there or always stepping in and helping. It means being close by and giving them the chance to do it but letting them know we are there to listen and to give advice.
    I should really be doing my laundry so I will leave it at that. Although I could go on and on but that would be boring. Enjoy your day and I hope the ducklings turn up somehow...
    Sabine

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  3. Ahh Sabine!
    Very well put!
    Love the part about being present but not rescuing them from every mistake, hurt or life experience.
    I was pondering this question in my mind as I think I was going down this very path of giving my children up to school, electronics and movies. I am realizing that though it is a lot more work and more time consuming being involved in their lives, guiding and listening is transforming my family. We are happier as a whole, and we all feel more connected as a family.
    Thank you Sabine for your feedback. From one day care drop out to another, we have a lot in common don't we. I must confess I miss my day care kids so very much! Hows the Bovine business?

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    Replies
    1. Tanya, The Dairy business is well again. We had a rough stretch in August/September with sick cows, sick calves, stillborn calves, milk production dropping etc. Now we are back on track and it's all part of farming... We really need to find our own farm. David is away from "home" a lot to catch up with farm work and I can tell the kids miss him a lot and I often feel like a single mom. So we keep working hard and searching for our place and we trust that something will come along that will work for us. We should get together the next time you are in Chilliwack... And yes, I have times where I miss the daycare days. It took almost a whole year for kids to tell me that they miss it too and how nice it was to always have other kids to play with. I had no idea how much they enjoyed it... Happy farming!

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