Bug Presentations and Maternal Bravery

Theo burst into the kitchen this afternoon with what he declared was ‘the most amazing beetle ever found in the history of beetles’ and naturally needed to share his discovery immediately.

Bug Presentations and Maternal Bravery

The joy on his face was pure and infectious, even as I mentally calculated the distance to the nearest exit.

The specimen in question

Let me be clear: I love my son’s passion for all things creepy-crawly. I love his curiosity, his scientific mind, his excitement about the natural world. What I don’t love is when that passion involves live specimens making themselves at home in my kitchen. But the things we do for love, right?

I surrender to the science

Marcus, of course, found the whole situation hilarious enough to document rather than help. Thanks, honey. Meanwhile, I’m over here trying to be the supportive mom who encourages scientific exploration while also not touching anything that might move unexpectedly.

Setting up the display

We eventually negotiated the beetle’s relocation to Theo’s room (in the jar, obviously) where it can live out its days being observed and admired from a respectful distance.

Motherhood: where you discover reserves of bravery you never knew you had. Even if that bravery is mostly just really good acting.