One of the great pleasures of bush walking is meeting the local wildlife. Often by surprise. The early walker can spot wallabies nibbling the morning grass. At a safe distance the wallaby will stare in amusement as the walker fails to see them. The walker is often eyes down, wheezing and struggling up a slight rise. When seen the walker stares in astonishment to see a wild creature at large in city bushland. The wallaby is nonplussed as his mob have bred in the bush for millennium.
The odd friendly dog is always happy for a chat and a pat. However, it is important to remember that they are on a mission. It is the sworn duty of dogs to take the lead, sniff out danger and leave their carers walking behind them carrying a bag of doggy doo. No wonder Fido's tail is wagging.
As the buddies walked the topic of parenting came up. The age old question of Nature vs Nurture.
They agreed that children, were both blessing and burden. While it is often said that children come without a manual, enough books have been written by learn-ed people on how to negotiate the minefield of raising a child, or two or three.
Noodles is of a scientific mindset, she reads books and has studied the physical child in detail. Her parenting style reflected her background. Solid, nurturing and kind. Occasionally, harsh but always fair. Noodles was, and remains, organized, one who plans ahead. If it was a competition and the outcomes were measured, she could claim her three productive, community-minded people as success. She did have some help from her partner in crime, Cap'n Pete. Let's face it it is the mother who bears the blame when things go wrong.
Kankles only read instructions after giving it a good go at doing something first. She had survived an OCD mother and a regime dominated by Dr. Spock with additional sound advice from the Women's Weekly.
Kankles ultimate self belief in her ability to complete any project without instruction held true for 90% of all tasks undertaken. From IKEA furniture to building a house. By week two of baby coming home, Kankles suffered post natal depression. Like the KitKat advert the cry of "there are no words no instructions" was often mentioned. Luckily, her partner The Old Panda (TOP) had enough experience to keep the child alive. After that it was all hit and miss and a reliance on old wives and their tales.
Kankles was less Dr Spock and more "beam me up Scotty".
Which bought out the whole idea of nurture. Obviously, neither had caused serious harm to their broodlings.
Like the great evangelist Billy Graham's wife once said when asked if she had ever considered divorce?
"Divorce never, murder often".
Children can drive a person to the brink of insanity.
"Babies are the best because they don't stop crying when all you want is 10 minutes sleep. Its like they know just how far to push you," said Kankles. "I can understand why someone feels like shaking a baby".
"It's unforgivable, but completely understandable,"said Noodles."Especially if drugs or alcohol are in the mix."
"Yes," said Kankles. "My children have no idea how lucky they are I did not drink when they were little. No idea at all".
"Mine are still lucky I don't drink!"
Which just goes to show, everyone has their struggles thought Kankles.
Babies are the cutest and loveliest part of a humans being. When they grow up Nature can start to play a role.Genetic traits appear.
Noodles, it seemed had a relatively strong link to hardy Scottish stock from the Northern Isles. She had bragging rights to the strength of her genetic heritage. She could even name a prime minister.
Kankles had invested in Ancestry.com and uncovered a number of convicts and rogues in the family tree. They were not so much as rattling about, more of banging loudly and shouting words that would make a sailor cringe. Taking a thought for her own stocky build it would seem even the skeletons were portly. The saying "never happened on my side of the family" opened a Pandora's Box of sins and misdemeanors best left locked away.
Kankles gave a short yelp, jumped backwards and pointed at a small bemused water dragon sunning itself on the track. The lizard eyed off the two humans allowing them to take several snaps. Nature had reasserted herself.
No comments:
Post a Comment