Coot Photoshoot : There Is No Such Thing As A Problem Child, There Is However - A Questionable Parenting

That same sunny day I was taking a stroll and had that snubbing encounter with a Mama Coot, I decided to take a right turn to the mere close to the foot bridge. There, I found this coot couple with their 6 chicks.

Both Papa Coot and Mama Coot were busily tending to all chicks. It was feeding time and they were oblivious of my existence, they all got closer to the bridge where I was standing so, Ms. Nosy me couldn't help but watch. I wish I had bread with me during those strolls, really. On the other hand, am not sure it's healthy to train the chicks to eat bread, don't you think? That's so out of their nature.

I noticed one chick's always swimming away from the group so I bothered Papa Coot.

"Hi there, Papa Coot. Isn't it a great day? The sun's up and the birds are singing."

Yeah, such a lame way to start a conversation ...

"Go away human, am busy!"

Wow, I guess I'll be getting another snubbing. Shoot!

"Hey, Papa Coot, what's wrong with that chick, why is it a bit distant? He's always swimming far from you and Mama Coot? Is he a rebel? Is he your problem child?"

I asked about one chick being on its own, swimming closer to the bank, seemingly trying to swim farther than it did the last time as if it's going after the group of ducks swimming on the other side.

"Who are you calling a problem child? That's not a he, it's a she! Don't go name calling my kid! She's just very adventurous and curious about this mere! She's just different, more of advanced! She's the first to ever try get off that nest and swim days before the rest even dared! She's just eager to matured, she mimics almost everything my wife and I do except sinking her head into the water and go pecking after the other birds cause she knows that's my role! She's rather just that, perhaps odd for you to see but she's just like that and its allowed! "

I could only imagine an exclamation point on every sentence he has thrown me with that tone, then he went on ..

"How dare you call her a problem child! There is no such thing as a problem child! There's only a questionable parenting! You humans, why do you always blame it on your children? As if it's their choice to be born in this world! It was yours, you and that lustful desire of yours! Now, you project it on my kids? She's not a problem child, in fact, am so proud of her, you should have seen her swimming with the ducks and even with that tough looking Nile geese!"

Proud Papa Coot indeed, he said so while diving in and out of the water for plants. I also noticed the way he's "beak feeding" his chicks so I dared asked hoping he's not aggravated yet.

"Aren't you spoiling them Papa Coot? You already dove for their food and you still beak feed them? Is that really still necessary?"

I got a glare for asking that, I almost jumped off the bridge at how sharp those eyes were.

"What are you meddling about? Weren't you breastfeed?"

Not that I remember really, I had to look up to the sky to think about it though but I just don't remember.

"So what do you want me to do? Just drop the food in the water for them to pick? It's too early for them to do that! Can't you see how much they're struggling to float? Haven't you had swimming lessons and had your heart fluttered at the fear of how deep the water you were in? How do you think they feel now?

"What do you want me to do? Let them drown? Like you people let your children howl in the middle of the night and don't even pick them up? Do you enjoy them crying at the top of their lungs? Well, we find that sadistic and abusive! You, haven't you experienced being spoon fed by any of your parents?"

I could feel my cheeks turning red. Good thing I was alone in that meer cause surely I was loosing my head. I have no recollection of neither being breast feed nor spoon fed. I shook my head off, maybe I just can't remember, who does, I was born when camera and celphones weren't as available as now so I can't look back into the past. " Lucky cootlings"; I thought, though surely, I wouldn't have been made to lick the table for spilt milk or baby food was I? That's quite a dreadful thought! I shook my head to get it off.

"It's weird how your human brains work. Nothing is right unless it meets your own standards or work for your own benefit. How dare you keep criticizing my children! How dare you question my parenting? Sooner, my chicks would be leaving the nest. It's just months before that happens! Don't you see how very short a time I have to show my love to them? How insolent!"

"Do you think it costs me much time to go diving there for food? It's just a few seconds compared to the hours some of you are spending in your offices and work. Oh, and are you proud that some of you are having a role switch and letting your children do the parenting to you and you get curious why you have what you call "your problem child?" Did it ever occur to any of you that perhaps you're a problem parent? "

" Why do you human always do that, when your kids go acting up, ask yourselves! It's a mere reflection that something is wrong with one or both parent? Why always blame it on the child? A child is a child - helpless and needs guidance! When they get bullied in school or they start showing unreasonable behaviors, instead of condemning them, talk to them, ask why they're doing what they're doing and really listen! If you do, you'd realize it's you parents that's the problem! Now you really are near pissing me off questioning my parenting here! Now, scram!"

I could feel his blood boiling at every blade sharp stare he's throwing me in between diving for water plants plus I was so embarrassed at the bit of truth he's mentioned about us so I decided to bid them goodbye and go on with my stroll thinking ...

"Mother f***ing nature, you do things so naturally or is it what you call instinct but it sure works, we humans could really learn much from you if we'd just care to look harder. I have to admit, coots make great parents!"

Now, why do I feel like I've just had some pecking!

So how about you human, reading this, what do you think? Is there really such a thing as a problem child or it's just really a questionable parenting? If you think it's either of the two, would you dare cite an example and explain why you think so?