FREEPORT, Maine --A lot of kids go to the park to see ducks, but 5-year-old Kylie Brown takes her duck to see the park.

Snowflake swims around the pond and then he returns when called. Because Snowflake sincerely believes that Kylie is his mother, and the duck is not alone in this delusion.

"I'm his mom," Kylie said. When she was reminded that she is not really the duck's mom, she disagreed. "Yep, I'm his mom."

Brown Family

Kylie first noticed Snowflake's attachment the day the Browns brought him home last summer. For whatever reason, the duck imprinted on Kylie and just had to be by her side, no matter what the hour.

When Snowflake refused to stay in the backyard, Kylie's parents Ashley and Mike say they had no choice but to give him a diaper and make him a house duck.

"He goes everywhere that ducks are allowed and almost everywhere they're not allowed," Mike said.

"I don't know if you've ever had a 2-year-old or a 4-year-old that wouldn't leave home without its blankie -- she would not leave home without her duck. And at that point, nothing is negotiable."

Brown Family

Snowflake goes to the beach in summer, and sledding in winter. He's been to soccer practice, gone on sleepovers, and he even went trick-or-treating as Olaf, the snowman from Frozen.

Over time, because they both believe they belong together, Snowflake and Kylie have formed a bond like most of us will never know.

"It's special, even at 5 years old, that I know that that's the type of person she's going to be," said Mike.

She really is going to make a great mom someday. Mostly because -- she already is.

To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, e-mail us.