bug motel

I have been telling the kids that I want to get them a bug motel so that we can watch the bugs and caterpillars we find. Tonight, while the five of us were playing in the rock box, I found a tiny caterpillar and Elsie lamented that we didn't have a bug motel and Rory explained that a mason jar was the original bug motel.

So we got a jar, put some rocks in the bottom and a few sticks slanted on the sides. We put a little water in the bottom and tossed in some grass and clover. And then we put in the caterpillar. I put some press-n-seal on the top with breathing holes and it was adorable. I wish so badly I had taken a picture.

Because moments later I found Ivar very sad on the couch. He told me he was sad we had taken the caterpillar from the rock box and that his mom and dad were probably looking for him. I assured him that there were no other caterpillars in that area where I was digging and he told me I should have digged deeper. I told him that I didn't think that caterpillars actually stayed with their mom and dad for very long, that they actually like to be alone. I've only ever seen them alone.

I got busy with something else, but the next thing I saw out the window was Ivar running from the rock box and into Rory's arms. Rory held him and Ivar cried and later Rory told me to write down these exact words as they came out of Ivar. Ivar told his dad, "I dumped him back out because I felt (began to sob) in my heart (loud wail) that he wanted to be in his home." And he cried into Rory's shoulder.

A few thoughts on this. Number one, Ivar is my son. I still personify most things and have a very tender heart that has clearly been genetically passed on to my boy. Number two, I am so glad Rory got that quote word for word. It's priceless. And Number three: Good thing I didn't spend ten bucks on a bug motel!