When the boys and I met up with a friend for a play date at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center, I was expecting the boys to learn many things: names of plants and birds, facts about snakes, little tidbits of the history of the area, etc. What I had not expected was for Sky, age 4-1/2, to learn so much about life and to engage in an experience that evoked an amazing amount of empathy and understanding for an animal.

At first we explored the museum part of the nature center – quite a few times – and perused some of the shorter trails. The boys had fun looking for numbers as they followed the trail markers and loved the historic home and pond. Sky, who is a bit “Star Wars”-obsessed, selected which parts of the area looked like a good home for Ewoks, and we took a break to have a snack.

Somewhere during that time, we made our way back toward the museum area and Sky noticed, not for the first time that day, the majestic red-tailed hawk perched in a cage. We’re lucky enough to see these beautiful creatures soaring above our home from time to time in Val Verde.

Sky went to the hawk’s cage often, and I noticed that it brought a thoughtful and slightly perplexed look to his face when he did. Finally, he opened up to me about what was on his mind, asking me why the hawk was in a cage. It was clear to him that a cage was not where this fierce flyer belonged.

I read the sign outside the bird’s cage and learned that the bird had been wounded – shot through the wing by a bullet. Whether it was someone hunting or just shooting for sport, or perhaps even someone who thought it would be funny to shoot this creature, I am not sure. What I did know was that this detail would not be easy for Sky to handle.

Lady, in her cage at Placerita | Photo by Ron Kraus

Should I tell him the truth? Yes, I decided; it was important to tell him the truth even if it was difficult for him to understand.

Tears welled up in his eyes. “Why would someone shoot at the bird, Mommy?” He asked. Again, committed to honesty, I responded. “I don’t know, but I agree it is sad.” And, it is and was. I saw in Sky’s eyes and further in his words that he was overcome with empathy for her. He felt the pain and sorrow of this animal, which should be soaring free but was instead confined to a cage.

He asked to go back to the trails and expressed that he no longer wanted to see the hawk. The hawk simply made him too sad. So we agreed and headed back to the trails. Not long after that, it was time to head toward home.

In the car, Sky was unusually quiet, still processing what had happened to the hawk. I found myself at a loss for words of comfort.

In a way I’m grateful I didn’t know what to say, that I didn’t have “all of the answers,” which as a parent we often want to have. By not providing the answers, Sky came up with an answer of his own. He came up with his own story for the hawk that gave him some comfort.

“Mom, do you think the hawk had a family?” He asked. “Yes, I do,” I responded. “Me too,” he chimed. “I think his family flies to see him, don’t you?”

“Definitely,” I replied.

And while Sky still held some sadness about this caged-in hawk, I appreciated that he had found a way to give himself some peace of mind about the situation and that his big heart mended by creating a story for the hawk that involved the hawk being loved.

I still think of that experience with the hawk from a few weeks ago – and so does Sky, mentioning the hawk to me often.

One of the greatest things about the summer is the way it provides me with opportunities to slow down and be present to my sons and to explore nature with them (and there are many wonderful natural beauties and experiences all around us in the Santa Clarita Valley). In these moments, there is often magic. Yes, Disneyland, Magic Mountain and other hot vacation destinations can be fun, but don’t forget the power of Mother Nature. Don’t forget to put away your smartphone. Don’t forget to focus in and listen, and don’t be afraid not to have all of the answers.

Empowering others to find answers themselves is amazing, especially when those answers come from their own heart and mind. As a filmmaker (aka storyteller), I’m reminded, by Sky’s experience, of the power of stories to heal the heart.

Jennifer Fischer is co-founder of the SCV Film Festival, a mom of two, an independent filmmaker and owner of Think Ten Media Group, whose Generation Arts division offers programs for SCV youth. She writes about her parenting journey on her blog, The Good Long Road. Her commentary is published Saturdays on SCVNews.com.