Spring has come early to Portland. All week the sun has been out, sparking thoughts of running through the sprinklers, popsicle-sticky fingers and sipping wine in the afternoon sun.
Yesterday I threw open the windows and door to the deck. Peeper, of course, darted outside to play in the sun. I took advantage of her independence and Kiwi’s nap to do some dishes.
“What kind of bug is this, Mama?” I heard Peeper ask from outside.
I stepped onto the deck. There was Peeper, lying belly-down on the porch, her nose mere inches from a beetle.
“I don’t know, sweetie. What does it look like?”
“Hm. It’s kind of black and kind of white. It’s very interesting,” she said.
Together, we watched the beetle march up the side of the house. Then it must have tripped over an invisible thread of a spider web. Suddenly, a tiny spider—maybe a tenth of the beetle’s size—darted out. The spider crawled over the beetle, leaving iridescent strands over its hoped-for prey.
Peeper and I watched the drama. Would the beetle escape, or would the spider catch a giant lunch?
The beetle ended up breaking the spider’s hold. After another minute, Peeper pushed herself up off the deck and went back to playing basketball in the planters.
I returned to the dishes. But I smiled as I scrubbed oatmeal from a pot. For a few minutes, Peeper had invited me into her world. I watched the age-old struggle of eat or be eaten with the wonder of a child.
As Peeper notices the smallest of details, she inspires me to see our world anew. She pushes me to ask questions and, when I don’t know the answers, to find out—or at least imagine what could be. She makes me want to get down and examine life nose-to-nose.
What a great moment!
I do try to capture moments like these. They seem so ordinary and yet transcendent!
So nice that this lovely weather is allowing you to get out for some bug-watching!
Yes! Now if only the ants would scram—I prefer to do my bug watching OUTSIDE.
Thanks for sharing that story so I too can remember a time of just sitting still and watching and enjoying the lil observations of life outside my to do list – and try to incorporate a moment of that into my day.
Isn’t it funny how a 2-year-old can teach us so much?
Love this – Peeper makes every day an adventure! The weather HAS been great, and I can’t wait to sip on wine outside again.
And I get to join her on her adventures—lucky me!
Ive been hearing it called February Fakeout- in terms of the weather I hope it lasts! Glad you guys got to explore!
That is the perfect name for this phenomenon!
LOVE! One of the best things about being a parent is the gift of being allowed to see life through your children’s eyes. Such a sweet moment — thank you for sharing!
She is seriously so cute.
Aw thanks Erin! She makes our days mighty fun.
This is so sweet ?
Thank you! She does sweeten my day.
Love it!! Another one of those beautiful parenting moments.
Isn’t it funny how the best parenting moments are the unassuming, everyday ones?
My kids loved bugs at that age. Who am I kidding? They still love bugs!
I’m a big fan of creepy crawly things, too—unless they scare me inside the house.
Nature and kids are amazing. Love conversation you can have with them.
Yes! Kids are so observant.
awwwwwwwwwwwwwww this story was sweetly put together. Kids do see things beautifully <3
Thank you! My girls really do help me see the world in a more beautiful light.
I love this so much. Kids see moments so wonderfully.