Mothers and Children

A few days ago, I noticed a nest on the ground on the little island in the middle of our backyard pond. Two days later, I saw that the nest had been disturbed and no sign of the eggs remained. I suspected a fox or a raccoon had found them. Then, this morning, the nest had been remade and no less than five eggs were in it. A female mallard cruised the pond and reluctantly flew off when one of the dogs made a move toward her. Claire tells me that ducks will lay eggs over several days, then finally, when they have enough, they will sit on them all to get things going. We’ll see if Mama Duck keeps her appointment with her little ones, despite treacherous predators and domestic canines.
The lesson? Mothering may be intentional or instinctive, but once you are on the path, it becomes a primal drive that persists against ridiculous odds, against tragic realities. Protecting our young at their most vulnerable is only the raw beginning. If you’re a duck, maybe the job ends with the fledging. If you’re a person, you never stop wondering if they’re safe and well. Never.