Turtle Whisperer

My oldest daughter is a baby whisperer. While some parents dread the terrible two’s. She loves them. Currently, she is a teacher at a preschool for you guessed it, the two-year-old room. Children who cried every day when they were dropped off for school, now cry when their parents pick them up to go home. She has some sort of built-in beam that shines bright with little ones.

She used to care for an infant class. Within ten minutes of meeting each baby, she loved them as if they were her own. When I asked her, “How do you manage with eight babies? You’re a human octopus!”

She responded, “Mom, they’re like a puzzle. It takes two to three days to figure them out. Once you know what they like and dislike, it’s easy.” I would never describe two babies as easy…let alone eight!

She said, “Some like to be held until they fall asleep. Others like to self-soothe to fall asleep. They all like to be sung to and rocked in my arms.”

I knew the answer before I asked it. “So what do you prefer?” I giggled to myself knowing what she loves.

“Oh, I prefer to rock each one to sleep. They snuggle in and my heart is so happy. It’s the best feeling ever. I sing when I’m alone with them. You’ve heard my voice! They seem to love it.”

Until today, I thought she was just a baby whisperer. As of this morning, she is a turtle whisper too. Yes! I am so proud.

Sitting on her back deck, she noticed movement in the grass. A large turtle was making her way through their yard. A house up the lane has a pond that they thought might be her home. They watched her trek through the freshly mowed grass. She chose a spot that was suitable for her nest. She layed ten eggs. Ten eggs! As a mother, you have to respect these animals.

Erika and her husband have two large Labradors. Maggie, the older dog, sniffed and lost interest in the nest. The male, Tank, who looks like a brute, ran off in fear when the turtle dug her foot into the dirt. I can speak dog, so I know he said, “Holy crap! This creature can move. I’m outta here!!!!”

The mother turtle covered her nest and began the trek back down the lane. My son-in-law, Brett, tried to give her a boost and carry her part of the way, but she was not happy.

 I could have told him that, as I also speak turtle. Don’t offer to boost any mother after birth. In this case, a turtle who just laid ten eggs. When I delivered just one baby, there was no boosting needed. I wanted flowers and breakfast in bed. Don’t even think about moving me!

Now she’s planning to fence the area to protect the babies. I think the world needs more Erikas.