MAN EATING LADYBUGS
It’s getting close to the time when I plant winter flowers in the pots in our backyard. We all enjoy the sharp color and contrast of the Annuals, especially in a cooling air.
This is like “The Little Red Hen” child’s story with an outdoor setting. Everyone enjoys the beautiful flowers, but no one wants to help plant them. I have to include myself in that category sometimes…
To be fair, I’m a little like the lazy animals in that children’s story, wanting to reap what I haven’t sewn inside the house as well, but then I’ve always been pretty good at eating!
I can still bribe my little one to hang out with me and help with the outdoor work occasionally. A few years back I bribed her into helping again. While we were flower shopping at the local do-it-yourself-mega-store, we found at the check out line, thin bags of sheer material. Inside those bags were what looked like hundreds of ladybugs, I wondered out loud, “Ladybugs in a bag?” “What’ll they think of next?”
This was a first for us, “Can we get some Dad”? My little one asked. “Sure, I’m all for them eating whatever it is that’s eating our flowers and shrubs”! I answered. We bought two for good measure.
Of course, when we got home the first thing my daughter wanted to do was to release the ladybugs. Oh No, my help and company would have been long gone. First things first, we removed the old dead flowers from all the pots, then we added water and remixed the mulch as needed.
We quickly developed a system, she handed me the little cubed roots of flowers and I’d secure them into their new more permanent homes. Hours and much work later, it was time to unleash our temporarily jailed aphid eaters.
Being a new experience for the both of us, we weren’t quite sure how to go about releasing them. I opened up the first bag and held it out in front of me… Nothing. These must have been the lazy ladybugs who were easy to catch. I shook the bag a little… Still nothing.
I reached my hand into the bag to gently grab some of the ladybugs and release them into the wonderland they had been born for. As I was reaching in the bag, I quickly stopped, looked wild-eyed at my daughter and yelled, “AAAAHHHHH”!!!— “THEY’RE EATING MY FLESH”!!!—“OH NO”!!—“THEY’RE MAN EATING LADYBUGS”!!!—“AAAAHHHHH”!!!
My daughter was frozen with fear for a couple of seconds, then she said, “NUH, UH”!!! It was as much a question as it was a statement. I still had a wild look in my eyes, but the fun of the moment got the best of me as I started to grin. “THEY ARE NOT DAD”!!! She declared, having solved the mystery.
We laughed for five minutes straight. She took her turn reaching into the bag and repeated our new found fun. “Ahh”! “Man Eating Ladybugs”! An instant family classic, the kind that happen out of the blue but define part of a childhood and will be recalled forever.
Since that Sunday afternoon, I’ve never looked upon a ladybug in the same light. I always think of our “Man-Eating-Ladybugs,” and the special time we spent working together to create something more special than just the random occasion.
It seems to always require effort to “create” something of lasting importance, especially fond memories, even if it’s just the menial tasks of responsibility coupled with the right perspective.
Looking back over my life so far, some of the best memories I have are of things that didn’t come easy, the tasks that required self-discipline and perseverance. I’ve heard it said, “In this life, for everything you get, you have to give up something.”
I recall that day and the simple ladybug memory. Whatever football game was on that day was worth giving up to gain the memories of a child and what a little thing, on a simple Sunday, would mean to her for the rest of her life. I think sometimes God is even bigger in the little things of this life.
Self-sacrifice, however, difficult at the any given time, is the cornerstone of any lasting gratification and a great way to teach a child the possibilities in even the smallest things in life.
The most treasured things gained can rarely be measured using a number. A person can spend time and energy filling their pockets with what can be measured by counting.
A life spent measuring happiness by a number, will come up short every time…
I pray my daughter will remember that lesson from her childhood… And, of course, the Man Eating Ladybugs…
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
Floyd,
Loved your story about Lady Bugs. the best things in life is doing things with your kids. i loved every thing i ever did with my daughter ! and still do . she now is my friend my daughter my every thing. loved your story,
Patty
Thursday, September 30, 2010 @ 7:02 pm
It’s amazing how many great times come on those days when we have nothing really planned. We just let life happen to us and it does.
Thursday, September 30, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
“A day isn’t wasted if a memory is made!” That quote came into my head while reading this! I really liked your story, and it is the little memories like that, that will last forever!
Friday, October 1, 2010 @ 10:19 am
This is a story that I really enjoyed.
Saturday, October 2, 2010 @ 10:23 am
This story was awesome and it’s true some of the best things in life are right at your nose you just have to find them and you can have the best time of you life right there.
Monday, October 4, 2010 @ 11:50 pm
Memories are amazing things that our minds are able to with hold. I love the memory of this guy rapping to an eminem song:)
Monday, October 11, 2010 @ 9:10 am
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 @ 1:59 pm
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 2:20 pm
Isn’t it funny how so many of our best memories are those unscripted moments that just happen? Sure we might remember a little bit about that vacation or birthday party that took so much planning and effort, but the moments happen just by spending time together. Thanks for reminding me of this and sharing this story.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:57 pm
Thanks Chuck, it really is the little day to day things I think. All the writings of yours and everyone else’s had my heart being pulled all over the map.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:18 pm
My brother is the biggest tease ever, and you and he would be great friends. This memory was worth a 10 if we are counting numbers. Your daughter decided to join in with the moment and have the fun at the table you set up for her. Man-eating-lady bugs, how sweet and I must get some for my garden! Great Post Floyd!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:58 pm
Thanks Hazel! And thanks for leading me over there to post, I’m a slow leaner and I truly appreciate the help.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:26 pm
I bet she remembers that all of her life. Good post, Floyd.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 5:00 pm
Thanks Glynn, I hope she does. I’ll bet she does something like this to her daughter or son one day. But for now she’s the youngest and the only one left at home, I better enjoy it while I can!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 10:48 am
Well, I found this on line and enjoyed it. Thanks for popping it into your comment re: MY Ladybugs.
Actually, what I discovered later, is that those ladybugs were actually the Japanese ladybugs. They hadn’t spread around quite as much as they have by now, and I simply didn’t know they had “invaded” our country. [Don’t know if it’s the drought or heat here, but haven’t seen any this year, which hadn’t been the case for quite a while.]
Anyhow, hope you are doing well and having a blessed day.
Jo
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 @ 6:02 pm
Thanks Joanne. I truly appreciated your ladybug post, especially how it interacted with kids. It’s a special thing to enjoy the small things in God’s creation. A blessed day everyday to you as well!