Quack, Quack, Waddle, Waddle!

This is such a cute little story, I just had to share it with all of you. About a month ago, Little Anthony and I were walking into his school and we noticed just the slightest of movements coming from the planter, located adjacent to the front door of the school. We peeked inside and found the cutest little Mommy Duck, who had made herself a cozy little nest.

Each day, Anthony and I would toss a few pieces of bread or kernes of corn for her to eat, as would few other parents and the staff of the school. All of the children anxiously waiting for the day when the baby ducks would make their appearance. The children, even the most curious of pre-schoolers, respected our little visitor and did not touch or stir our "mommy-to-be"! Instead, just briefly checking in on her each day, to say hello and see if her babies had hatched. All of the children, acted with patience through weeks of ancitipation....

...until yesterday! When I arrived at school to pick up my patient little man, our cautious distance from our little Mommy Duck had been rewarded, for in her little flowerbasket nest were 5 little brown furry chicks...peeping away! I rushed inside to sweep up my son so he could see the babies before the Mommy Duck lead them away to the water.

When we came back outside, there was a group of parents and children who had gathered around to watch the new family. The group seemed concerned that Mommy Duck couldn't get her babies out of the flowerbasket nest, despite her desperate attempts. A plan was quickly formed and rescue efforts began! See, once the babies were safely out of the basket, the trek to the nearest pond was treacherous, for any newborn baby duck, to say the least...full of traffic and hazards.

Our group of parents and students decided to take action! One of the Moms gently guided the flowerbasket to it's side, so the babies could easily walk out without injury. Then another parent, scooped up the 5 babies and we began to walk to the nearby pond...Mommy Duck following quite angrily...but following nevertheless! The remainder of us, parents and per-schooler alike, helped to stop traffic so our Mommy Duck could safely cross the road to be with her babies! It was a seamless group effort to save our new family of duckies!

The kids were so proud of themselves for helping this family... it was nice learning opportunity for our human ducklings!!! We'll be checking in our little family in few more days to make sure they are still doing well.

to be continued...