Mrs. Mallard

Mrs. Mallard, of Make Way for Ducklings claim, was loving, thoughtful, protective and, perhaps, a bit crazy. She had all the qualities (including the crazy quality) of an amazing mother. In fact, I would even go so far as to say Mrs. Mallard was a supermom - I have enough trouble keeping track of one little "duck" in Boston, I can't imagine keeping track of eight!

One learns never to get between a mom and her baby/babies (I'm talking mama bear and her cubs, mama lion and her cubs...). When I became a mom this took on a new meaning - I immediately understood the need/desire to "protect" my little one, to make him happy, and to make sure he was well care for. I also no longer saw Mrs. Mallard as a crazy duck traipsing through the city with babies. Instead I saw her as a wonderful, independent mom, trying to find a better place for her babies (I still do question Mr. Mallard's commitment - off exploring?!)

I bring all of this up because we, fittingly, spent Mother's Day with my mom and grandmother at the Make Way for Ducklings Parade in Boston. The "parade" is actually all the little ones dressed in full duck regalia (or in Oliver's case, a duck hat) following the Harvard Marching Band along the path Mrs. Mallard took - through Beacon Hill to the Public Garden.

Oliver fell asleep on the way to the parade, but woke up (or was woken up by his Aunt Elizabeth (still not clear)) just as the parade was about to begin.
Still fuzzy from sleep he was plopped on Papa's shoulders and given a quacker. Amazingly the quacker stayed in his mouth most of the parade.

The parade ended in the Public Garden. Oliver spent a bit of time feeding the ducks, but then it was up onto Uncle Jon' shoulders. Oliver is big into riding things and pretending they are horses. He tends to hold on very tightly and yell "Neigh, Neigh, Neigh." In top form Oliver not only yanked Jon's hair with full force, but also would kick Jon to make him go faster every time Jon slowed down. Perhaps we have a budding jockey on our hands?