All it takes is a third of a can of corn to get six chickens into the coop after a romp in the yard. I do my little yodel thing, sprinkle it on the ground and inside the door and they follow the food. Works like a charm. Shaming them does not help. We have a younger bunch too, and they are still a bit shy. This morning I was patient as I spread
grower feed in a path leading up to their cage, waiting for the more timid Silkie Bantams to cross the threshold.
Content with my barnyard skills I came in and checked messages on the landline.
There was a concerned voice describing the errant behavior of my son. My mind made a zip line to calling him and chewing him out. Then I thought of the chicks.
How is it that I can be unflappable with a bird I only met
in October, and blow a gasket about a son who grew inside my body? I chose to text him instead, inviting him to respond.
The woman who wrote
What Shamu Taught Me about Love, Life and Marriage elaborated on the idea that creatures both furry and shaven react better to
kindness than scolding. John is no different. This week he replaced the broken light above the washing machine. When he was done he timidly invited me to go see it. I was in the middle of a thank you note and promised to go when I was done. But one of the characteristics described in the book is to reward the desired behavior immediately. I should have flung down the card and leaped from my chair, danced down the stairs and shouted for glee. Well, maybe not shouted. But he deserved to be
celebrated for a task I have wanted for months. Why would I delay my appreciation?
I think I will make John his favorite fruit salad today. And I will even sprinkle it with corn.
