Hello folks who wonder if my recent lack of publishing is simply because I'm salty now that Taylor Swift is getting married,

Every year brings its own mix of seasons, holidays, Amazon Prime deals, and Mother’s and Father’s Days.

But every year when these holidays roll around, you can't escape parents raving about how their kids made them a 'gummy bear meal' and handed them a card declaring them the best mom ever.

Don't get me wrong, the sentiment is sweet. But let's be honest: you won that award by default. There was no fierce competition. You didn't beat out Josh from accounting or out-hustle a rival department. Your "manager" is a chaotic four-year-old who currently believes a balanced diet consists of Play-Doh and gummy worms.

What children often don't see, however, is everything that happened long before they were old enough to hand out those awards. They don't see the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, the worries, the financial strain, the plans that were postponed, or the countless decisions made to prepare a world for them before they ever arrived in it. That's the part of parenting that rarely gets recognized.

During my trip in India, last year I was standing atop a hill with this view.

That’s when I spotted a male Baya Weaver landing on a wild date palm, ripping fibrous strands from its leaves.

I decided to take one of the leaves and examine it for myself.

Pulling at the edges of the leaf shreds them into long strands, just like string cheese. It instantly triggers my deep horror of those lawless individuals who ruthlessly bite straight into a cheese stick instead of peeling it.

Using these flexible palm ribbons, they intricately construct their iconic upside-down nests.

By intricately locking the palm fibers together, the bird creates a structure strong enough to weather the intense monsoon storms that arrive just as they raise their family.

It’s just so satisfying to watch. Plus, I have a mountain of video footage, so you’re going to see it, whether you like it or not