"Are you a Bird like Me?" by Noel Foy and Nicholas Roberto

My family is its own cast of characters. If you ask my wife and children, I could very well be the biggest character here. Everyone here has their quirks and the different things that makes them tick. From my son's love for watermelons and asking for them every Christmas, to my youngest daughter's obsession with Rick Riordan and letting everyone know of the latest development in his writing whether it's asked for or not. And then there is my oldest daughter, who needs twenty support animals just to ger herself out of bed and isn't seen by anyone inside the house or out because we're all just prisoners of the matrix. Speaking of support animals, Wife and I are keeping the hard cap of two.

Dealing with School

The Boy and The Oppressed are in elementary school and middle school, respectively. They have made their own circle of friends. These children can be just as quirky as they are, and that's alright. What makes them tick can be entertaining, and I have no idea what I'm asking for when I ask how they are or what they've been up to since I last saw them.

Lovie is still finding her way through college. She has made some friends who help with classes and with dealing with the insanity that sometimes permeates into Academia.

Everyone is unique. Kids want to fit in, but as they get older, I think they come to realize that what makes them unique is good, and sometimes their different talents and interests not only makes life interesting, but it can also come in handy from time to time.

Are you a Bird Like me?

Recently, I read "Are you a Bird Like me?" by Noel Foy and Nicholas Roberto. It's a children's book

"Are you a Bird Like me?"

about a baby bird who falls out of her nest while her parents are out foraging for food. The baby, named Sky tries to fly back to her nest, but she is a baby bird who hasn't flown before and it's hard for her to flap her wings and get back up into her nest. Sky decides it's easier for her to walk around on her own and try to find her parents. Along the way she meets Nutso the squirrel, Mona the butterfly, and Stretch the giraffe. The new friends agree to help Sky get back home and find her parents. It's not an easy journey, everyone manages by sticking together and using their own abilities and differences.

Life isn't always easy. Of course it isn't, that's why I call my daughter "The Oppressed". Homework and chores around the house continually prevent her from enjoying life. I offer whatever help I can. Also helping her is her friends at school. Together, these young ladies face the challenges that middle school and totalitarian parents throw at them every day. It's not easy, but their united front reminds everyone that they are not alone when that dreaded first bell rings.

My youngest daughter may not have all of the answers when it comes to homework, but she is able to hold her own. She is a good student when it comes to Spanish, and her love for marine life, especially turtles, keeps her interested in Biology. The Boy is good at math, and he is a good reader. His comprehension is impressive. Sometimes this work can wear him out, and that's why I'm the one who had to read at night. I've reminded him what a good reader he is and he should practice by reading to me, but no such luck.

Sky, Nutso, and Stretch can't fly. Mona can't life heavy objects. Sky, Nutso, and Mona can't reach things that are too high. It's a difficult struggle. Sky wants to get home, and her friends want to help her. No one can do it alone, much like "The Three Musketeers" of middle school, but with the use of everyone's gifts, it looks like Sky's journey home just might get a little easier.

"The world is a very, very-very big place, but the more you see, the smaller it seems." -  Nutso the Squirell 

The Scary World Shrinks

In the beginning of the book, Sky thought her whole world was her egg, then she thought it was her nest. Falling out of the tree made her realize how big the world is and how much there is to see. Sky wasn't sure she wanted to leave her home, but Nutso reminds her the world isn't so big when you see more of it.

My children didn't want to go to school when the time came to leave home, me and Wife. Kids don't want to go to school alone. Now, they like to see their friends and catch up on what happened on the night or weekend before that morning. It doesn't make going to school or doing work any less of a chore but being able to see your friends and talk to each other makes the day a little more bearable. Sometimes, a child will leave the house a little earlier than normal so they can hang out at the bus stop and chat a little before the bus shows up to take them to their school and the dreaded assignments that await them.

The same can be said for Sky and her friends. As they get older, they all learn that the world isn't so big and scary. It can be a fun place to explore. My kids have learned that on their own and through the various trips we have taken as a family. At some point, our children will venture out on their own. Their quirks and their talents will be on display for all to see, and hopefully it will serve them and the world well.