Sunday, July 25, 2010

Chickens and Children


My husband and I have four children. We are crazy about them (therefore, we are not completely responsible for some of the things we do on their behalf). One boy and three girls, they range in age from 13 down to 7. We also have one Miniature Schnauzer and two cats. A few months ago, as if it were not enough of a zoo around here, we decided to let the kids (who had requested the opportunity), incubate some chicken eggs. What in the world were we thinking?

Our next door neighboor has chickens so he gladly donated twenty eggs! We started the process and in the end were fifty percent successful and found ourselves the proud owners of ten baby chicks. Chicks are cute. I will grant you that. Soft, fluffy, cute little critters. But like all critters, they grow, and begin to make noise, not to mention other things. Once the house began to take on some strange odors it was time to send the chickens outdoors. I was quite ready for that transition. May I just say for the sake of disclosure, I am not much of an outdoorsy hands-in-the-dirt (and chickens) kind of girl. I greatly appreciate farmers and all that they do. I am glad that my children have had this educational opportunity. However, I am just going to cut right to the chase here and announce that I am beginning to hate the chickens!

They seem to bring heartbreak to my oldest daughter and that just makes me mad. Don't mess with my kids. You know what I mean. She has been so sweet to her chicken (which turned out to be a rooster)! His name is Romeo. He scratched her arm the other day. But then, and this is what really has me mad, he chased the girl around the yard until she was scared to death and in tears. Thank goodness for Millie, the Schnauzer! She protects her kids. Ran the fowl bird (pun intended) under a tree! I guess I am not the animal person I was when I was a kid. However, I do remember how much they meant to me then. That's why we have allowed our children to have them. It's like a right of passage. The opportunity to bond, learn about God's creation, etc. Having expressed all that though, I'm going to have to stick with the fact that I am not liking the chickens!

Six of them seem to be missing. More tears from my oldest daughter. That's the kicker right there. She was so upset with her chicken the other day, but the thought that something might have happened to him has her so sad. Dumb chickens. Well, I don't know how this saga will turn out, I just know that it has been an incredible year of loss for this family. So, I will simply close with this...

God, would you send those silly chickens back to their little house so my little girl will not be so sad? And while You're at it would You work on restoring this grown up girl's heart that it might be more tender and compassionate like that of my sweet daughter?