one flew INTO the cuckoo's nest

so yesterday i came walking down the stairs when to my left i heard some frantic fluttering. i looked over to see a small bird had flown through our front door which had been left open accidentally about 5 inches. 

i called for ben and he did his best to summon the small creature....think a male version of mary poppins with a spoon full of sugar but without the awesome purse that holds everything. the bird actually sat on ben's hand for a minute. but the second ben would walk or do anything, the bird would flip out and start ramming into the windows. i was afraid it was about to do some harm to itself. finally the bird caught on to the fact that we were trying to help him, and flew out the open door. 

my dreams of one day owning my own aviary or possibly singing a duet with a bird were shattered.

but it got me thinking...we had a really REALLY bad day with carrot top yesterday. to the point that he did some more property damage and then decided to try to get some negative attention by doing some self-harm. he goes through this cycle every so often of not knowing how to deal with his anger...or boredom...or fear...or whatever it is. 

i thought about this little bird, as ben and i were doing everything we could to get it to safety & freedom, the bird continued to freak out and bash itself into walls and windows. i was soooooo frustrated with carrot top yesterday and couldn't believe the level he will take things just to get negative attention. 

while ben and i and carmella (our AWESOMEST staff member) were standing there, talking softly, reasoning, trying to make him laugh, finally telling him he is sinking his own ship and needs to start bailing himself out, that there is nothing more we could do. and he just kept hitting himself against walls, windows, dressers, couches, you get the idea.

what i'm saying is that i got a little perspective yesterday. that i don't know how much time it will take for carrot top to understand that the front door has been open the whole time and all he needs to do is just stop fighting and start flying. 

maybe he will never understand. maybe it will just take some time, like the bird. 

but whatever he chooses, ben and i will be standing there with our hands open, ready to help.