Lessons from a Mama Duck

A Special Mother’s Day at P&B Garden  This Mother’s Day, we had the special experience of watching a mama duck hatch her ducklings here in one of our flowerpots at P&B Garden. Somewhere between the tiny duck feet, the nervous watching, and the waddling parade back to the pond, there was a quiet lesson about motherhood. 

For several weeks, this mama sat faithfully on her flowerpot nest through rain, wind, and chilly nights. Every day she would leave for about thirty minutes, stretch her legs, grab a bite to eat, and hurry right back. 

When the ducklings finally arrived, we had read they could tire easily in the water and might not even be able to get out of the pool.  Apparently, nobody explained that to Mama Duck. She already knew exactly what to do. One by one, she taught those tiny fluff balls how to jump out of the pool. Some made it quickly. Some struggled. But she stayed patient until every last duckling made it out safely while the others seemed to cheer each other on from the sidelines.  And what struck me most was this: she did not carry them out. She taught them how to do it themselves and that is the hardest part of being a mother, preparing your children to someday stand on their own two feet without you. 

This little mama duck reminded me of mothers who may feel alone sometimes, who live far from family, who figure things out one day at a time because the buck simply stops with them. And somehow, it works out because love teaches mothers things nobody else can explain. 

After warming her babies beneath her wings one last time, Mama Duck lined them all up behind her, waddled them through the open gate, and headed back toward the pond. No panic. No hesitation. Just love, instinct, and courage leading the way. She did not even tell us good-bye or wave a little thank you nod. But she gave us something we will never forget. We miss Mama Duck.   

Happy Mother’s Day from P&B Garden to all the mamas out there, the supported ones, the exhausted ones, the strong ones, and especially the ones quietly doing more than anyone realizes.