Very hungry for a pet caterpillar (Embrace the Ordinary)
As I walked onto the preschool playground Friday afternoon, I could see that Daniel had something to show me.
He came running over with a red bucket.
“Mama!” he yelled. “Come see my baby caterpillar!”
I oohed and aahed over it, of course. I had to pet it, which I didn’t really mind, but I also had to pet the worms his friend had found, which I did mind.
“He’s very excited about his caterpillar,” Daniel’s teacher said. “He wants to bring it home. Is that OK?”
I looked down at Daniel and the caterpillar in the bucket. How could I say no? Why would I?
His teacher found a cup to hold it and we were on our way.
I tried to look online to figure out what kind it is, but the photos of lots and lots of caterpillars were making my skin crawl, so I gave up.
As we drove home, Daniel talked about how the caterpillar would sleep by his bed and eat leaves and what else do you think he eats, Mama, because I don’t know, and I’m sure he’s hungry and oh he’s just so, so cute, and I can’t wait to show him to Baba and don’t you think he’s so cute?
The caterpillar is very cute. That’s why his name is Cutie—or was last time I checked. None of Daniel’s animals keep the same name for long. And the photos really are not doing his new pet justice, though I do think the caterpillar is cutest when Daniel is telling you how cute he is.
He (she?) is living in a little bug cage on our back porch. The boys are feeding it leaves and talking to it and wondering what else they can do to make it comfortable.
I have been advocating for freedom, but Daniel desperately wants to see the caterpillar become a moth or a butterfly. I’m wondering how quickly that might happen. Probably not soon enough.
For now, though, Daniel is just so proud to be a pet owner.
And, considering that he had been hoping for a cheetah or an owl, I think Mama and Baba got off pretty easy this time.
Joining Gina for one of my favorite link-ups, Embrace the Ordinary.