Donkey ‘Drops Off’ Baby with Human Mom After Apparently Needing a Break
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My immigrant parents attended my Yale graduation. Seeing them on the Ivy League campus for the first time was surprisingly moving.
My immigrant parents never visited me while I was a student at Yale, but they came to my graduation. They didn’t fit in with the other families, and they often apologized for their presence. It was moving seeing them on the Ivy League campus, signifying all they gave up for me. Their story is far from unique. Immigrant parents exist in a gray zone between demanding work schedules and language barriers. They were two people who grew up too fast, who put aside their differences and discomforts to join me at a place I have now become accustomed to. It wasn’t the humility that moved me; it was the exhausting vigilance I saw in my parents. It pained me the way they tried not to inconvenience others — a broader reflection of what it means to be immigrants in our country. I wanted my parents to know their son was standing tall in a place that once seemed impossible. I know they’ll miss out on important milestones as I head into med school at Stanford. Even though it can get lonely without them around to cheer me on, I’m proud to honor their hard work in this country.
They didn’t fit in with the other families, and they often apologized for their presence.
It was moving seeing them on the Ivy League campus, signifying all they gave up for me.
The night before I left for my senior year at Yale, my mom and I joked that we would find each other again in the next lifetime, but as classmates. We imagined ourselves sitting in the back row of some old lecture hall, whispering about which New Haven spot to try next for dinner.
“And Dad?” I asked.
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“He would probably be in the very first row,” Mom laughed. “You know he loves to talk.”
That fantasy came to life in May when my immigrant parents finally came to visit me at Yale for the first time. Neither of them graduated from high school in rural China, but they came to campus to celebrate my commencement.
For years, complicated logistics and sacrifices kept them away. My father rarely left New York because of my grandparents’ declining health, while my mother has grown increasingly reluctant to travel alone.
They missed every one of Yale’s annual family events. Our story is far from unique. Immigrant parents exist in a gray zone between demanding work schedules and language barriers. Plus, mounting scrutiny on noncitizens makes even domestic travel fraught with risk.
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I was determined that graduation would make up for the missed opportunities to bond with my parents. I just didn’t expect to be so moved by their presence on campus.
I hoped to give my parents the full college experience
I coordinated the details: guiding them through train transfers, creating an ambitious itinerary of museums, libraries, restaurants, and landmarks. I even coached my mom on what to say if anyone asked for ID at any point.
I also wanted them to participate in the Yale Class Day traditions: decorating personalized graduation hats, seeing the annual comedy skit, and listening to student representatives from various faiths read scriptures at the Baccalaureate Ceremony.
It was my mission to make them feel comfortable at the school, but part of my motivation was selfish. Nothing meant more to me than walking across that stage, turning to the audience, and seeing their faces cheer me on. I wanted my parents to know their son was standing tall in a place that once seemed impossible.
Their presence stood in quiet contrast to the families surrounding us
While I was excited to see them cheer, I didn’t expect them to look so lost on the Ivy League campus.
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Other families moved confidently through the elite spaces, spoke fluent English, knew the difference between Gothic and Baroque architecture, and, in some cases, proudly returned as Yale alums.
I noticed that my mom and dad over-apologized throughout their stay. “Sorry,” they said, while smiling and brushing past security. They said it again when they accidentally got in the way of a photo shoot, or when catching a break during our hike up East Rock, a mountain ridge north of campus that ends up with a breathtaking view of New Haven.
“Sorry,” they said as we took a rest at the base of a large hemlock. A small creek burbled in front of us, and Dad picked up a few rocks and skipped them across the water. They got close, but the rocks never reached the opposite bank.
It wasn’t the humility that moved me; it was the exhausting vigilance I saw in my parents. It pained me the way they tried not to inconvenience others — a broader reflection of what it means to be immigrants in our country. They were two people who grew up too fast, who put aside their differences and discomforts to join me at a place I have now become accustomed to.
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If college graduation is all about thrusting ourselves into uncharted waters, then this was just as much their graduation as mine.
I will long cherish my parents’ visit
Having my parents finally on Yale’s campus reminded me to cherish the moments we have together and not harp on the moments they missed over the past four years. I know they’ll also miss out on important milestones as I head into med school at Stanford.
Even though it can get lonely without them around to cheer me on through all my achievements, I’m proud to honor their hard work in this country.
Toward the end of their three-day stay for commencement, I took my parents to Marsh Hall, where I had my first biology course as a first-year student. Seating 483 students, it’s also the largest classroom at Yale. My parents went to the front of the classroom. They marveled at the Japanese chalk near the blackboard, flipped through empty blue book exams, and wondered how the projector worked.
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I took off my glasses, and through the blur, my parents looked like college students having fun: Mom in her emerald green dress and Dad in the dress shirt I’d bought him. They seemed too busy looking around to notice me. From the margins, watching the two people I loved most forget me, even if it was just for a moment, I was happy.
Read the original article on Business Insider
Baby Cockatoo’s Adorable ‘Scream’ Is Giving Total ‘Jurassic Park’ Vibes
The San Antonio Zoo shared a video of one of their baby cockatoos screaming. Commenters got a kick out of the baby bird’s Jurassic Park-like scream. Cockatoos are sometimes called ‘velcro birds’ because they form such strong bonds with their humans. They can learn to mimic human speech and other sounds that they hear daily, but their vocabulary is limited to around 20-30 words. If you’re looking for a quiet pet, a cockatoo is not the bird for you! They’ll make noise just to make noise, sometimes at the most inopportune times. They’re still very entertaining to hang out with, though!
Have you ever had one of those days when you just want to scream in frustration? If so, you’ll appreciate this video that the San Antonio Zoo shared of one of their baby cockatoos screaming, and it’s giving total Jurassic Park vibes!
The adorable baby bird most likely isn’t frustrated, but instead, practicing using his big boy (or girl!) voice. Make sure your sound is on so you can hear it, and we bet you’ll watch it more than once!
That’s the cutest scream we’ve ever heard! San Antonio Zoo made us all laugh with their simple caption to the video, “Honestly, same.” What more do you need to say?!
Commenters got a kick out of the baby bird’s Jurassic Park-like scream and left nearly 2 thousand comments. @D pointed out, “I think that baby dinosaur is hungry.” @Ionv made everybody smile when they said, “Um, ma’am, your chicken alarm clock is going off.” @Journal Junkie cracked us up when they added, “The visual representation of the year 2025.” and @Aw Nuts! chimed in with, “Dude just got here, why is he so mad LOL!”
Related: Excited Cockatoo Barking Like a Dog Is Hysterical to Hear
Cool Cockatoo Facts
Cockatoos are sometimes called ‘velcro birds’ because they form such strong bonds with their humans. Pango Vet shared, “Once they imprint on someone, it never goes away for them. That’s why just one of these birds is such a huge commitment. Many times, potential owners don’t understand just how affectionate and attached these birds can become.” My sister had a cockatoo that followed her around everywhere – the bird acted like he was one of her kids!
But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a mind of their own. “Cockatoos are one of the most popular domesticated birds, but they come with a spicy attitude. Having a cockatoo is a lot like having a rambunctious toddler. They require a lot of your attention and love to push the boundaries at every turn.”
These birds are also very vocal and are very loud. They’ll make noise just to make noise, sometimes at the most inopportune times! If you’re looking for a quiet pet, a cockatoo is not the bird for you! That being said, cockatoos are noisy but don’t speak as well as some parrots do. They can learn to mimic human speech and other sounds that they hear daily, but their vocabulary is limited to around 20-30 words. They’re still very entertaining to hang out with, though!
Baby Cockatoo’s Adorable ‘Scream’ Is Giving Total ‘Jurassic Park’ Vibes first appeared on PetHelpful on Jun 19, 2025
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Antonio Zoo’s Video of Three Baby Cockatoos at Different Stages of Growth Quickly Goes Viral
San Antonio Zoo shared a video in mid-June of three baby cockatoos at different stages of development. The video quickly went viral, racking up nearly 6 million views, half a million likes, and more than 7 thousand comments. Black Palm Cockatoos are the largest of the world’s cockatoo species (there are 18 in total) They can grow to up to 24 inches long and weigh up to 3 pounds and live between 40 and 60 years in the wild, and even longer in captivity. They can be kept as pets, but they’re not as friendly as some other parrots and require much more training. While they can learn to mimic sounds and human speech, they usually have a more limited vocabulary than other parrot.
We all know that babies, whether human or animal, grow and develop very quickly, but sometimes you don’t realize how fast they grow unless you can see the differences side-by-side. San Antonio Zoo shared a video in mid-June of three baby cockatoos at different stages of development, and it’s amazing to see.
The three baby birds featured in the video are all siblings. A cockatoo’s incubation period after laying eggs takes about 25-30 days on average, and the eggs don’t all hatch at the same time, which explains the size differences. Make sure your sound is on so you can hear the three practicing their squawks and squeaks – it’ll make you smile!
San Antonio Zoo shared more about the birds in the video’s caption, “These are baby Black Palm Cockatoos. These amazing birds are native to Australia and New Guinea and are one of nature’s most unique parrots. They will spend the next weeks of their life under the expert care of our Aviculture team at The Nest, the state-of-the-art facility where they hand-rear birds from all around the world!”
Related: Screaming’ Hungry Baby Black Palm Cockatoo at San Diego Zoo Is Making Everybody Smile
Commenter Reactions to San Antonio Zoo’s Baby Black Palm Cockatoos
The Zoo’s video quickly went viral, racking up nearly 6 million views, half a million likes, and more than 7 thousand comments. People had a lot to say about the baby cockatoos. Like @andrew who joked, “They lined up like Pokemon evolutions!!!” @Gigi pointed out, “You know this is how Jurassic Park started…”
@Roscoe ETK said, “The three stages of toddlerhood LOL!” We couldn’t help but laugh when @Creemiib added, “It’s always the middle child.”
More About Black Palm Cockatoos
Commenter @Demetrius shared, “Birds are one of the few animals that are actually cuter as adults…” According to Spruce Pets, these chicks will look much different when their feathers come in at around 14-16 weeks old. The older two birds are already getting their feathers, but the tiny little one has a ways to go still.
They also shared cool fact about the birds, “This otherwise single-colored bird has bright red patches of bare skin on their cheeks, which change colors when the bird gets excited. Their cheeks are as striking as its dark grayish-black beak, giving it a very distinct profile up close.” They’ll be much more attractive when they get older!
Black Palm Cockatoos are the largest of the world’s cockatoo species (there are 18 in total). They can grow to up to 24 inches long and weigh up to 3 pounds. In the wild, they live between 40 and 60 years, and even longer in captivity: up to 80 to 90 years with proper care. They can be kept as pets, but they’re not as friendly as some other parrots and require much more training. While they can learn to mimic sounds and human speech, they usually have a more limited vocabulary than other parrots.
San Antonio Zoo’s Video of Three Baby Cockatoos at Different Stages of Growth Quickly Goes Viral first appeared on PetHelpful on Jun 22, 2025
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Mom Films Herself on the Toilet to Show What It Feels Like to Be the ‘Default Parent’
Brittany Thorn, a mother of two in Los Angeles, shared a TikTok video that illustrated her role as the “default parent.” The informal term is designed for those (usually moms) who manage most of the childcare, housework and family decisions. “I will be on my deathbed. Paralyzed. Blood coming from every orifice. And my kids will still walk past their dad to get to me,” says Brittany. ‘I bought myself a shirt that said, ‘Go ask your dad.’ It helped,’ says husband John Thorn, who also says he is the ‘default parent’ for his two sons, ages 4 and 8.“When they want something questionable, they may feel they get more of a ‘Yes’ out of mom,�” John says, adding that there are occasions in which he serves as a “ default parent”
“We stand in solidarity,” Brittany Thorn, a mother of two in Los Angeles, tells TODAY.com.
This week, Brittany shared a TikTok video that illustrated her role as the “default parent.” The informal term is designed for those (usually moms) who manage most of the childcare, housework and family decisions — even when another parent is willing and present.
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In Brittany’s video, she is sitting on the toilet when she hears a familiar voice call out, “Mom! Mom!”
Brittany’s 4-year-old son, who had just finished eating breakfast with his father, John Thorn, wanted a snack.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Brittany told her son in the video. “Ask your dad — you literally walked right by him to get to me.”
Comments on Brittany’s video showed the commonality of the problem.
“I will be on my deathbed. Paralyzed. Blood coming from every orifice. And my kids will still walk past their dad to get to me.”
“I will be at work and my husband at home with our children and they will text me.”
“I was laying on the couch. My toddler was sitting at the dining room table with dad. She got up from the table, then walked to the living room to ask me for a snack. I was like, ‘You can go ask your dad.’ She looked at me like I was insane.”
“The other day, my kids asked me if I could pull over so they could take a picture. I wasn’t even the one driving!!!”
“My kids will stand up from the couch NEXT TO THEIR DAD and come outside to ask me to get them food. No???”
“They have been sitting on his lap and gotten up to ask me for something.”
“I bought myself a shirt that said, ‘Go ask your dad.’ It helped.”
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Brittany tells TODAY.com that she is the “default parent” for her two sons, ages 4 and 8.
In her video, Brittany had just settled into the bathroom when she heard her youngest call for her.
“I told him, ‘I was just with you — you knew where I was going!” says Brittany. “I said, ‘You had to walk past your dad to come here and ask me for something.’”
According to Brittany, her husband tries his best to manage the children, especially when she’s on the phone and amid the “morning chaos.” She says that sometimes the word, “Mom!” can feel like “background noise” to her husband.
Brittany admits she is the “softer” parent who says, “Yes” more often than her husband John.
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“Sometimes, I say, ‘Whatever — even if I don’t want you to have that snack, if you’re driving me crazy, I’ll let you have it,’” says Brittany. “Whereas, my husband is more likely to have a conversation about why the kids shouldn’t have chocolate-covered pretzels for breakfast.”
John agrees, telling TODAY.com that their children usually get the “honey” from mom.
“When they want something questionable, they may feel they get more of a ‘Yes’ out of mom,” John says, adding that there are occasions in which he serves as the “default parent,” when it comes to baseball or bike riding.
Brittany said that day, her “default parent” responsibilities were as extensive as a trip to the bathroom.
“I finished my business and when I came out, my son was already onto something else,” says Brittany. “Whatever he needed was not actually important.”
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Source: https://pethelpful.com/pet-news/donkey-drops-off-baby-with-human-mom