The Little Songbirds

In a happy nest at the top of a tree, lived the little Songbird family of three. Mommy bird was as sweet as berries. Daddy bird was smart and strong. When Mommy would leave to gather food each day, Daddy would always call her home with a song. Baby Bird really loved to play and as he returned from school each day. He'd fly to their nest yet he'd always be met, by Daddy somewhere along. Then the rest of the way they would laugh and play games, all while he was still singing his song.

Daddy loved to play hide and go seek, but he'd peek. Daddy loved to go out to the park down the street. Daddy loved to make Baby Bird, birdseed pancakes and after he'd always help clean up the plates.

Though lately, Daddy wasn't feeling himself. In fact he was feeling like somebody else. He had some big thoughts he didn't know how to explain. He was feeling real grumpy, tired, and strained. See Daddy was sick, like chicken pox or the flu and when we get sick it affects our mood. Though Daddy did not have a virus lets say he was sure feeling sick in a different way.

He was feeling too grumpy to play hide and go seek. Too tired to fly to the park down the street. He was too strained to make his special birdseed pancakes, or to help wash any of the morning plates.

Daddy had even quit singing his song but somehow the family still got along. Mommy worked harder to find her way home and Baby Bird did all the dishes alone. Mommy knew daddy bird needed some help, he couldn't feel better all by himself. Baby Bird knew Daddy needed some love. Some patience, some quiet, and even a hug.

It was just like the time baby fell on his wing, Mommy and Daddy helped do everything. Until he felt better, they'd work hard together and help to hear Daddy sing! For love is like a medicine, it helps us to feel good. It makes us feel our best again; the way we really should. Now some days it was very hard, but others it was easy. They all had good and bad days, both the Songbirds and their baby.

Daddy still met Baby Bird along his daily walk but instead of being playful they now used the time to talk. Talk about their feelings, ask questions to one another. Some were simple, like "how are you?" and some were hard to ask each other. Many mornings later and there're more good days than there's bad. The Songbirds focus on the future and the good times to be had. You can again hear sweet, soft singing coming from their nest but instead of just one birdy, you can hear all of the rest.

Daddy sometimes now plays hide and seek. Daddy flies to the park now once a week. Baby Bird learned to make bird seed pancakes and even though he makes little mistakes, they all eat together in their nest in the tree. Loving each other for what they can be. A little songbird family of three. Mommy, Daddy and Baby Birdy.