The Little Red Hen Teaches Us to Work Together

We Can Do This!

As a child, it was obvious that my dad loved and admired his mother. She struggled during the depression as a widow raising six children, 5 boys and 1 girl, which explains why she didn’t fit the stereotypical image of a grandma. When we visited, the kids played outside and were expected to be seen and not heard — not just an expression at my grandmother’s house. I never doubted that she loved us, but hugs and cuddles were not freely distributed.

In their home when Dad grew up, recycling was not a trend but a way of life. Clothes were handed down from one child to the next, leftovers, when there were any, served as the foundation for the next meal, and there existed little that vinegar and water could not clean. If dirt remained, they were expected to scrub harder. Survival meant making do with what they had and not complaining.

So, when the neighbor offered the small plot of land next door for grandma to plant a garden, she readily accepted. The story Dad shared helped me understand Grandma and reminded me of the fable, The Little Red Hen.

Just like the Hen, Grandma tilled the ground, planted the seeds, water and weeded as the seedlings grew. The garden provided hope, food for her children. However, when the neighbor saw the garden in all its glory, he announced that since the garden was on his property, he planned to reap the rewards and pick the vegetables himself. He apparently had never read the fable because he didn’t anticipate Grandma’s response.

I believe this might be the day the expression “mad as a wet hen” emerged. I envision grandma, dripping in sweat from exhaustion after chores, disciplining children and maintaining a full-time job. Her garden produced not only needed food for her family but pride as a result of hard work.

Dad released a full belly laugh when he told how she hit the neighbor with the shovel. When he stopped laughing and ended his tale he said, “That garden was hers, by God!” I can’t imagine a court in the country that would have found Grandma guilty of a crime.

In difficult times people take extreme measures to protect loved ones. These are difficult times and though we are simply being asked to stay in our homes, we must remember our future is being decided as each day passes. What we do or don’t do could impact the rest of our lives. When we observe others, watch the news, and hear about incidents that might have seemed strange a week ago, remember these days are not normal so people may act abnormal.

Our instincts are to protect ourselves and the ones we love. So far, I have witnessed mostly compassion and empathy, neighbors helping neighbors. However, it is essential that our kindness to each other continue until this challenge ends. And when life gets harder, if we continue to work together as a team to get through whatever comes, we will survive.

The moral of this story –

Treat your neighbor as you would have them treat you.

Oh, and don’t try to take a bone from a dog.

Stay safe, everyone.

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