This month has been jam packed full of adventure, sunshine, and fun; walks by the lake, a trip to the zoo, play dates galore, tons of fun in the garden and it feels like we've spent every minute of June outdoors. At this point I'm not exactly sure how I've ever survived a Michigan winter. The sunshine and warmth are so glorious and invigorating.
Last year, towards the latter half of summer little Abe got stung by a yellow jacket. A horrible bee phobia quickly ensued and it felt like this year's summer would be ruined. He didn't want to leave the house for any reason. He started to cry and shake when he heard any sort of buzzing. We couldn't even go to the playground without tears because at some point a bee would inevitably fly past.
I'm delighted to report that after the hundredth time having watched the Wild Kratts episode called "Flight of the Pollinators," and our many, MANY discussions about how most bees are nice and only sting when they're scared little Abe is not only over his phobia but he's made a habit out of watching bees work. If you look closely in the above photo you can actually see a small bee above the flower directly in front of his face. He also now spends a great deal of time watching the big fat bumble bees that continuously collect pollen from the wild rose bush out back. Thank goodness for summer and the vigor of little boys!
Awww... Yes, thank goodness for summer and our general bounce-back-ability! (And for patient parents! :) )
ReplyDeleteHe has totally bounced back and then some. For real though, there was a time there where it seemed like we'd never be able to go outside again without fear and trembling.
DeleteHe is adorable. I am so glad you watched a film with him so he can understand how necessary bees are. Plus it helps to know that a regular bee sting is not nearly as painful as a yellow jacket. (those suckers pack a wallop)
ReplyDeleteThank-you! He really has watched that one episode about the pollinators more times then I could count and I know it's the main reason he was able to be brave and develop interest in bees instead of an all around fear.
DeleteIt's honestly really neat for me to sit and watch him for 10 to 15 minutes just observing the bees work. With top photo (taken yesterday) he stood there for at least 5 minutes, practically in the middle of those flowers watching all the little bees collecting nectar. The small sweat bees were buzzing all around him and he was completely un-phased. I was just so proud of him.
I'm with him - I'm still scared of bees from when I grew up in Miami and we would step on them in bare feet....ouch!!! They also don't abide by agreements - we have a honeysuckle & a blackberry bush out front and I told them I would leave the honeysuckle alone if they let me pick the blackberries - they did NOT leave me alone, they got very made at me....whose in charge here....they are :(
DeleteThey really are in charge aren't they. Our ground rules are, you can't touch them and you can't swat at them and you move slow. As long as the bees are real bees and not wasps or hornets (he can tell the difference really quickly now) the bees here aren't aggressive. Wasp and hornets are another store and we don't have any Africanized honey bees in Michigan (or even in any of the surrounding states) otherwise that would change up the ground rules for sure.
DeleteWell done you on getting Abe over his bee-phobia. At the moment I am feeling rather jealous of your weather as it is raining AGAIN here. I seem to have spent very little time on my swing this year. Grrrrr!
ReplyDeleteI hope it turns around and you get to spend lots of time on your swing in coming days. Here the weather has been almost perfect. It's been raining plenty but mostly through the night so that in the daytime we're left with lots of warmth and sunshine. We've had a few "cold" days but even those are wonderful spent outdoors.
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