Caterpillars?

The boy found a caterpillar with basically a white fuzzy coat and a few long, darker lashes coming out of it. After poking around on the web, it looks to be an American Dagger Moth.

Since his school class has been watching catepillars turn into butterflies, he decided to take the initiative. “Dad, can I have a jar to put this caterpillar in so I can watch it turn into a chrysallis?” It’s amusing too listen to him stumble over a “big” word like “chrysallis.” Are they supposed to know that sort of thing already?

So I dutifully went and grabbed a canning jar and poked some holes in the lid. Then I brought it over to him and he started filling it with grass. I figured the caterpillar might like something else so I grabbed an oak leaf and a maple leaf and added them to the jar.

He has barely set the jar down since. We went out and he wanted to bring the jar along because he didn’t want to miss the caterpillar turning into a chrysallis. When we picked up the lass from school, he told her about the “surprise” he had waiting at home. When they went to bed I was instructed to check on the caterpillar to make sure it was OK. He could barely wait to show the Wife when she came down this morning.

Simple things that get taken for granted when you grow up. I guess that’s a fringe benefit of being a parent. We get reminders about those simple things if we’re willing to stop and listen.