Charles Cullen

Local film maker, actor, singer, live performer and established television personality Charles Cullen writes weekly columns about life on the chicken farm and beyond.

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Chicken Ranch
Charles E. Cullen
March 2007
Issue # 212

Ever heard that country song, "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle?" Pretty good. Ever notice something happens to a woman when she becomes a mom?

The child becomes the most important thing in the world...which it should. Pass a female bear in the woods, they run. Most bears just want to get away from humans. But pass a mama bear with cubs and you have a problem. A female bear with young is a dangerous situation. Same with a lot of animals. I recall being about 14 years old and a friend and I went to North Carolina with his dad to visit their cousins. Now the cuzs lived on a very rural farm. Most of our time we spent riding motorcycles through the mountain trails.

But we visited (not by choice) on hog neutering day. It would take three strong young boys and one old farmer to hold one little piglet still while performing the neuter and clipping of the tail. Now each time you would pick up a piglet of course it would squeal. And that mother sow would ram the stall with all her weight. I was sure she was coming through. She didn't, but if she had I'm sure she would have trompled all four of us. Do not mess with a mother that has young!

Women who don't have children yet areone way, then when they become moms they change a little.

For the good, though. I guess it's just human nature for them to become protective, and the main concern becomes the young. They almost seem to stop liking the male of the species.

But mothers are neat creatures, whether human or animal. I like to watch the change that comes over a hen once she decides to sit on eggs. Nothing will stop her. Carry her 100 yards away and she will make a bee-line back to that nest. And where hens are quite docile, once they start sitting, you had best be prepared to be pecked when you get your hand near her.

So yeah, let's take an average cycle here: A girl is 23 to 25 years old, met some guys, dated, etc...then meets that special someone. The courtship begins. He is her everything. A few miles down the road the guy asks her to marry him. Fireworks light the night sky as she boasts to all her friends and family. The friends are of course jealous but happy for her.

One, two years down the road, girl becomes pregnant.

Husband helps out and they shop for baby furniture and turn one room of the house into a mini carnival. Baby comes. Girl now becomes a mother.

Watch her change, and as I said before, it is not a bad thing , it is just simply a change.But a complex one at that. She becomes different.Everything will revolve around the child pretty much from here on out.

OK, let's zip on down through time about 20 years. She is still a mom. "Aren't you going to put your raincoat on dear, its raining out there, you'll catch a cold?"

And most all children it seems, are more comfortable with mom. They will tell them things that they won't tell dad. Most I say, or at least in my observations.

Moms also seem to have some special connection, even at long distances that let them know that something is not right or jiving well with their children.

So they are very unique. The change is quite wonderful. And if you're a man don't worry. There are things like golf, beer and hunting trips...you'll be just fine. I think women, by instinct, only look at men as the breeding partner. Will it breed the type children I want and help take care of them. Sorry guys, just makes sense to me.

The chorus of the song wraps up with something like:

"There ought to be a hall of fame for mamas Creation's most unique and precious pearl"...something like that. So I agree , somewhere in the world we should begin construction on the Hall of Fame for mamas.

Sincerely,
Charles Cullen