Mark Palmer

The pecking order

My children have finally left home – but their pet parrot still controls my life

issue 30 October 2010

Every now and again you read about ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’ — a curious affliction suffered by parents who are sad that their children have left home. It sounds like heaven to me. My wife and I should be, well, free as a bird now that all our little ones have fled to university and beyond.

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