How can a smelly, hissing goose teach you to be a better parent? Find out!
by Michelle Shelton
keys2kids

In the 1990’s we lived on a farm in Iowa. Since I grew up in the country, I thought I knew everything there was to know about country living. Imagine my surprise at learning something life changing from a couple of geese! 

When we obtained the farm I wanted to have the full experience so I began to collect animals. We acquired cats, dogs, chickens, an old horse, guineas and the pair of geese. I recall the wisdom that came from the animals. One piece of wisdom was on leadership.

Leadership can be applied to our families, friends, co-workers and relatives. True leaders are not born, as we are often taught. True leaders are developed. They find out what others want and they weigh the best solution to create a win / win situation. They face the challenges and don't say, "it's too hard." They develop their character, skills, philosophies, attitudes, and goals and allow these to be their guiding force. Fine leaders understand that others look up to them. They grasp the concept of this immense responsibility and joyfully take on the task. Good, bad or ugly.

On the farm we owned 4 acres of woods in the back of the house, at night it was crawling with opossum, raccoons and coyotes. Of course that meant that each night all the feathered animals would have to be secured in the chicken coop. The chickens and guineas didn’t have a problem with going in at night, however the geese were another story! 

The geese did not want to be told what to do. Each evening the kids, the dog and I would do the ritual goose dance where I would chase the geese with a big stick and attempt to shoo them into the chicken coop. At times my husband would strategically apply some new technique, yet nothing worked! There was always a lot of yelling and honking. Finally we would manage to herd the geese to the door and they would reluctantly jump over the threshold and we would angrily slam the door shut behind them. 

The geese began to consume my thoughts. What motivated these stupid, stubborn birds? Why did they have such a mind of their own and why were they so...well....you know...difficult? Didn't they realize it was for their own protection and we were attempting to do what was best for them? I knew the geese preferred the open barn to the locked door of the coop and I also knew if I left them out they would be goose dinner for some prowling animal in the woods. 

I can't say as I blame them. No one likes to be told what to do. No one likes to give up his or her freedom, even if it is only at night and even if it is for his or her own good. Then it dawned on me that perhaps the geese were like children. Maybe they had a mind and personality of their own and I needed to find out what they wanted, show them how to get it and give them the freedom to choose. It was time to get creative! 

That evening I opened a bag of grain and spilled some in front of the geese. They quickly waddled over and gobbled it up. I had found the answer! Yippee! I was leading them! They were following me! I took the grain and joyfully led them into the coop and then ran out and slammed the door shut and this time, I smiled! 

I took my stick and danced around with it in John Travolta style. Living on a farm means no close neighbors monitoring your behavior so you tend to be...well, let's say...more open. I had just learned the power of leadership from a couple of stupid, hissing, stinking, annoying birds! I was so happy! 
From that moment on the geese were led in each night.
Ask yourself, what motivates your spouse and children? Are you attempting to get what you want or do you take time to find out what they want and then show them how to get it? Are you bossing and pushing or are you leading your children? Are you creatively designing situations where everyone wins?
Read a book on leadership and apply it to your family. Leadership is not limited to CEO's and Presidents of major corporations. You never know, your family might even thank you. Anything is possible!