I watched the Planet Earth episode about the Arctic. The teamwork of penguin parents is indefatigable. Mommy P manages to give birth to a single egg under severe conditions, but then is too exhausted to keep it warm. The couple cooperates to hand off their fragile treasure in sub zero weather, without letting it either freeze or crack on the ice. Daddy P tucks it under his warm flap of skin where it will stay cozy for the next two months. The flock of a thousand dedicated daddies huddle together to stave off the hundred mile an hour winds, with the peripheral birds feeling the worst of the whip. Somehow everyone agrees about rotating, so that each shivering penguin gets a chance in the middle.

 

Meanwhile the thousand emaciated mamas trek across fifty miles of barren snow to the ocean, where they finally replenish their strength with krill. Each penguin mother instinctively knows when to start her return trip, timed precisely to arrive before her mate starves, so that he can trudge back to the ocean for food. Their efforts are a cooperative partnership revolving around the safety of their single chick. 

 

Perhaps it is not a coincidence, that children demand extraordinary sacrifices from their parents. I know there were times I wanted to be miffed at John, but was temporarily obliged to join forces with him on our children's behalf. 

 

Come to think of it, I never saw any of the penguins argue. 

 

Photo by Jenny Stein

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