Eagles are quite the spectacle. From their grace in flight to their grand hunting prowess, it isn’t rocket science why this avian species is called the king of the Skies. It is an apex predator in its food chain- it can hunt other animals for food but no other animals hunt it.
But, you know, what really impresses me about the life of an eagle is its mating culture. Quite unlike a lot of birds, when an eagle finds a partner during the mating season, it forms a relationship not just for that season but for a major part of its life. The eagle couple flies off and works together to build their nest. Then, they mate and the female lays the eggs. One would expect that the female would spend all the time caring for the eggs or hatchlings while the male does all the flying around, especially for hunting; however, this is not the case for the eagles. The eagles take turns sitting on the eggs/ watching over the hatchlings so that each partner can go out to look for food. They also partake in training the young eagles to fly. It’s like a joint partnership where everyone pulls his own weight.
I believe that we can learn a lot from this beautiful creature. Over time, we have been taught what a man’s place is and what a woman’s place is. We were told that a woman belongs to the kitchen while the man should work to bring home the resources. Hasn’t that changed drastically in current times? We see more and more females rising up in the corporate sphere for the sake of fending for their families. However, the one misconception that still refuses to change is the one that says, ‘a man’s place is at work, bringing home the resources.’ Firstly, let me first point out that to a great ext ent too, it’s true. Men are largely responsible for the finances of their families and are to ensure that there are enough resources flowing around in the family for them to meet up with everyday needs. However, it doesn’t end there: a man’s place is also at home, sitting on the eggs. Put differently, it’s not just to give out money for soup and demand for food when you’re hungry. It is to participate actively in the growth of the children and the welfare of the home.
Marriage is a joint partnership. In other words, it’s shared responsibility. Child care is shared. House care is shared. Love is shared. Unfortunately, it’s common to see families where the man is so detached from his house that his presence is never felt even when he is at home: no time with the children, no chores whatsoever. As usual, the woman remains the only one interacting with the household. The truth is that, when our families see us taking the prerogative of overseeing the welfare of the house, they recognize us to truly be one of them. Once they see that we care, not just about how early dinner is served but also about how well the family is progressing, they will not just respect us, they’ll be drawn to us.
Bottom line: We should be like the male eagle: earning the respect of his family, not just by providing for them but by being present to watch over them and work with them. That is how true family leadership works. It won’t kill you to know your children’s shoe size or their birthdays or their favorite meals. It doesn’t matter how busy we are, we can find a way to do it.[1]
Here’s what I want you to do this week: begin to pay more attention to the details of your family. Learn new and interesting things about your wife and kids; then, use that knowledge to help them somehow. Note how they feel afterwards. You’ll soon see how much closer your family will be drawn to you.
There you have it. Until next time on this blog, keep living fulfilled.
Journeying from Obscurity to Fulfillment… ONCE MENNOW MACHINES…