Beyond The Parenting Tale Of Junior Mourning Dove (Part 1 Of 4)

We chose mates to procreate, as directed by God, and raise families within our faith in the hope that our offspring will be emotionally, mentally, and physically fit enough to venture out into the world carrying the flame of faith, develop successful parenting skills, and continue the family tree.

But, what happens when Junior refuses to leave the nest? Have we failed as parents? We pray for answers to the challenge of fledglings who won’t fly. How did we fail our Lord and our children? Perhaps God, in all His wisdom, gives us the answers right in our own backyard.

God gave us Nature. And nature is a great teacher, especially concerning raising children.

Psychiatrists and Psychologists have been studying simple animal behavior for centuries because it runs parallel to complex human behavior. According to Psychology Today;

“Animal behavior research is particularly relevant to the study of human behavior when it comes to preservation of a species, or how an animal’s behavior helps it survive. For example, the behavior of animals in stressful or aggressive situations can be studied to help find solutions for humans in similar circumstances.”

This is the story of Willful Junior Mourning Dove and his gentle parents.

It was the beginning of a new day dawning on the porch overlooking the golf course. The sound of the waterfall fixture in the corner soothed the soul. As I sipped my coffee, the three bird families had been awake for hours, and there was no indication that today was any different from any other day that had been unfolding for the past month. But it was. It was time to fly.

Mr. and Mrs. Hummingbird had twin fledglings crammed into a tiny thimble sized nest built of spider webs, tiny leaves, and feathers balanced precariously on the very tip of a long thin fig tree branch. When the cool evening breezes made their way over the mountain tops, it would gently rock them to sleep. Yes, this idyllic home was literally, rock-a-bye-baby. It had been weeks since their parents had slept with them. The Hummingbird twins had the condo to themselves while mom and dad kept careful watch from the distant orange tree. Making clicking sounds, so they knew it was me, I checked on them nightly to be sure the teeny-tiny darlings were safe and sound. This had been part of my ritual since they were two eggs no bigger than a pencil eraser.

Farther to the right of the Hummingbirds and toward in the middle of the fig tree was another nest balanced between two branches and made of twigs that appeared to have been hastily thrown together. In it sat the single offspring of Mr. and Mrs. Mourning Dove named Junior. Whichever parent did not stay with Junior hooted all day long from the rooftop like a night owl with a shudder. Junior was the apple of their eye, and the Doves never left their little darling alone. Unlike the Hummingbirds, the Doves took turns sitting on Junior day and night.

Junior was kept safe and warm, and fed on demand.

Around the corner, sixty feet away from the fig tree nests, the Mocking Birds lived high in the branches of an olive tree. Their nest was built in the crook of a large branch between the trunk of the tree. The deep, sturdy nest housed triplets.

Then, one morning it was as if Mother Nature yelled, “Everyone up and out for school!”

Watch for part 2 of this 4 part Parenting Blog when Junior Dove decides he does not want to go to school or leave home.

If you liked this article you may enjoy http://www.patheos.com/blogs/aboveandbeyondthe5senses/2018/07/beyond-boomers-and-millennials-do-you-remember-when-part-1-of-2/

About the Author: Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos is a TV Producer/Host and Author/Lecturer of Dreams That Can Save Your Life written with Dr. Larry Burk, Foreword by Berne Siegel, which promotes patient advocacy and connecting with Dreams for success in health, wealth, and relationships. Contact –Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos Website