| When our families are in crisis, we often turn to | | | | If your husband won't load the dishwasher or change |
| counselors, therapists, church leaders, and friends, but | | | | the empty roll of toilet paper, introduce him to the |
| we might learn as much or more if we look at the | | | | Canadian beaver. The male and female work |
| animal kingdom. The way many animals act in families, | | | | alongside each other—as well as subsequent |
| packs, prides, and herds can teach us a great deal | | | | generations of offspring—to build their dams. If a |
| about our relationships with people. | | | | beaver proves to be a non-worker, not living up to |
| Take pack and herd animals, for example. Got a | | | | that "busy as a beaver" cliché, he becomes an |
| teenager? Then you're dealing with one of these. | | | | outcast, and the other beavers will go as far as biting |
| The rules are clear in the young adult world: Never | | | | the slacker's tail to keep him from enjoying the spoils |
| stray far from the group, act as one, be on the | | | | of their labor. Tough love. |
| lookout for any danger that might set you apart. And | | | | Elephants are well known for their compassion |
| when danger shows itself—bolt and consider the | | | | toward others in their herd. Old, young, and injured |
| consequences later. | | | | elephants are never left behind. The herd moves at |
| Having trouble finding time for your kids? Hillary | | | | the pace of the slowest trekker. When a member |
| Clinton once said "It takes a village," but it might be | | | | dies, elephants have been known to stay around the |
| clearer if you look at a troop of baboons. Child | | | | body for days, mourning their loss, before moving on. |
| rearing is a shared responsibility among the females, | | | | And finally, the lion could teach your family something |
| and if one mother is unavailable, another takes over | | | | about loyalty. Fierce in her determination and |
| to feed, discipline, or offer comfort. Why have we | | | | protection of those she loves, but also nurturing and |
| moved out of multi-generational homes that could | | | | gentle when needed, the lioness considers the |
| offer us this same advantage? Why don't our | | | | welfare of her pride first and foremost. Nobody |
| children have access to grandparents, aunts, and | | | | messes with her family. |
| uncles in their homes? With so many kids being raised | | | | We could learn a lot from these creatures. In fact, it |
| in one-family homes, the inclusion of extended family | | | | calls into question just who is the more evolved. |
| seems like an excellent idea. | | | | |