Baby bird.

Yesterday we had a baby bird fall from our roof, where her parents had built the nest. This was the second baby bird to fall from the too-high nest, but the first time the kids weren't aware it had happened. This little feathered bird landed on our hose, and during water play was discovered by the children.

We took the opportunity to give deeper meaning to the word "died", and to offer a respect for life, and how precious and fragile it really is. We all gathered around and the older children helped dig a little hole in the garden. Luna made a rose petal pillow, and Wren found a scrap of fabric from my sewing basket for a blanket. We put the dead baby bird into the ground, and gently covered her up. All the children gathered pretty rocks to lay on top of the dirt. We said things like:

"sorry baby bird."
"we will miss you."
"we hope you are in heaven with cheif and manni"
"your mama and brothers and sisters will miss you"
"too bad you couldn't fly."
"goodbye little birdie. goodbye. goodbye."