The feeding bowl in our garden was not refilled in the evening. That went unnoticed till the Bulbuls came for the evening round searching for food. They waited in the garden and one of them noticed the movement of a moth and flew in to catch it on time. The other Bulbul waited in the plant. The Bulbul who fetched the moth struggled a bit to swallow it.
The Bulbul which had its feed flew to the adjacent nutmeg tree and engaged in bird call waiting for its companion which was still waiting in the garden near the feeding bowl, hoping it to be filled!
By then a Mynah had flown into the feeding station chasing the Bulbul away.
The scenes like this in the garden alerts us of the ways birds search and find their existential needs. These routines are the events of each day.
Such experiences bring an awareness of the demands that come upon birds to live adapting to different circumstances. The garden space offers the birds what they need. The gardens feed them and shelter them.
In a dialogue on parenting practices yesterday, the questions were related to attending to the different 'needs and demands' of pre-school and early school going children, which sometimes looked unreasonable to parents. Some parents find themselves challenged to be patient and perseverant to engage them. What some parents find difficult is the 'unreasonableness' of their expectations and demands. What if they insist on running into the rain to get wet and drenched! I thought to myself that it might be a legitimate 'fun experience' for a pre-school child, while it is a fearful experience for parents about the child catching a 'cold'! What difference it is from having a bath in the bathroom, if there is no lighting or thundering!
Learning to be parents allowing space and freedom to include healthy experiences for their child is a journey which some parents do not take! It is a child who educates us to grow into parenthood. The parents need that attitude of allowing the children to guide them into the role of fulfilling the reasonable aspirations of a child and live fulfilled in watching their child grow up as an all rounder in attitude and behaviour!
The garden offers itself to the birds. The garden of the home is such a space for children to feel welcomed and provided for! Every home is also for children!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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