Since we’ve been on spring break this week {which is really the opposite of a break when your kids are 5 and under}, the girls and I have spent a considerable amount of time outside. Given that we’ve only been here a few months, the backyard is still new enough to the Toddler and the Preschooler that they’re thoroughly entertained just by being set free to explore and chase each other around in the grass. Yesterday the Preschooler, though, made her most exciting discovery yet when she found a tree the perfect height for her to climb.
Determined, as usual, she climbed right on up to a decent perch in the tree and declared that she wanted to build a treehouse to play in at the top. {Climbing has never been an obstacle for the Preschooler. Whether it be climbing out of her crib as a baby or climbing up the back side of our stairs as a toddler, she knows no fear and seems to be lacking my more rational “this could be dangerous so I better not do it” gene}.
So, yesterday evening I was watching her climb and bounce around in the tree and was thinking to myself about how brave and adventurous she seems to be.
But, then, my train of thought was abruptly derailed by a shrill scream.
Me: “What? What?! What is it?”
The Preschooler: “A WORM! There’s a worm in the tree!! Help! Help me!!”
Me {calmly, I think}: “OK. Can you just jump down?”
The Preschooler {now bawling}: “No!! It’s going to get me! Come get me! HELLLP!”
And, so I got her down and reassured her that she was fine, unharmed, and all was going to be OK…
The Preschooler {still extremely upset}: “But, Mama… I TOUCHED a WORM!”
Me: I know… I know.
The Preschooler {through real tears}: “It’s so nasty. And, I touched it.”
Well, as it turned out, the “worm coming out of the tree” as she described it, was actually a snail. And, I know that snails are harmless and cute in nursery rhymes and story books. BUT, in real life I’m going to have to agree with the Preschooler and describe it as “nasty.” Admittedly, I’m totally ridiculous when it comes to having a proper appreciation for nature and all her creatures. The sad truth is, though,… this innocent molluscan gives me real chills.
I’m finding that one of the hardest things about being a parent is that I have to BE brave even when I don’t FEEL brave… as was the case yesterday when I had to run rescue the Preschooler from the tree not yet knowing whether she was being threatened by a snake, a worm, or simply a snail.
And, pretending to be brave is hard work. Just last summer, I had to pretend that I wasn’t grossed out of my mind by the silver frog that kept appearing in various locations in our backyard. With this crazy weather, who knows what all I may have to “bravely” go up against this year?!
Let’s just hope it doesn’t get much wilder out there than a few snails and the occasional frog. Because if this mama has to do something like kill a snake, someone else will need to come care for my children for several days while I recover.
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