We have 2 kids, a dog, and a cat. Jobs, chores, special projects, and a church we love to be involved in. And yet…something was missing.
We wanted something we felt we could successfully care for. A being that didn’t need training and constant vigilance. We desired breathing things that would only demand for a short time before growing into maturity and providing that blissful joy of appreciation for our sacrifices we knew was our due.
So we raised butterflies.
These sweet beings, light and fluffy when they left our nest, started off as squishy, grubby caterpillars, of course. But the journey over the two weeks they sat on our kitchen counter was remarkable. They grew leaps and bounds, spun themselves around, then hung around (literally) and made us wait for their emergence. Every day we were on a precipice, breathless, waiting for metamorphosis to happen in our kitchen. You think we exaggerate? Not at all. Raising butterflies was much fun for all of us. We can’t wait to get some new babies.
We started by purchasing the Insect Lore Butterfly Growing Kit Toy(affiliate link).
We procured ours at a local craft store but feel free to use Amazon Prime benefits to get it delivered to your door. We cashed in the free voucher included with the kit to get caterpillars delivered (we still had to pay $7.00 for the shipping and handling of our fuzzy kids). When they arrived, there were no bigger than a pinky fingernail.
At this point, being experienced parents who have successfully seen two infants through the tender newborn phase, we did nothing. Nothing.
Insect Lore packages caterpillars so they are self-sufficient. Food is at the bottom of the cup and when the caterpillars have grown ten times (10 times!) in size, they move to the lid of the cup and spin themselves into chrysalides. Our role was to watch and enjoy their growth. We came down every morning, anxious to see their progress and whether those precious, dainty chrysalides had formed.
Eventually, just as we were impatient enough to wonder what was wrong with our caterpillar babies, it happened. Nothing is as magical as nature untouched – they spun themselves in the most intricate self-contained dance ever conceived. It was tantalizingly impossible.
Then. We waited. More.
Late one morning, out they came. The Insect Lore package holds five caterpillars, which was perfect. All of ours successfully emerged and our boys named them all “George.” although one became “Slacker George,” since we noticed he was always behind the others.
No matter that we were all home that morning, watching intently, we couldn’t catch them emerging. Run to the bathroom? Come out and another was prancing around. Go get a coffee refill? Return and another George was smugly flitting about.
After a few days allowing them to mature, and waiting for a warm spring day, it was time to let our Georges go.
Surprisingly, we were such good parents that our butterflies were not interested in leaving the nest (NOTE: This will NOT happen with our real children. They must fly to freedom at the right time…which is when Mom and Dad have a Greek Island Cruise booked….). But eventually, they all found their way out. Slacker George was last, obviously.
All but Slacker George flew high and free, quick and strong. But Slacker George hung around, loathe to leave. He landed on our hands and fingers, not wanting to let go.
Yet eventually he did. He flew off into the sky until we could no longer see him.
The sense of loss was real. The drama each day, the anticipation, the quiet rustling of butterfly wings around our morning Cheerios…we miss them.
This was something our entire family enjoyed.
In case you just don’t have the two weeks to wait or the nearly-$30 to spend on this, here is the experience in 19 seconds –
But, if you can, go in for the real thing. Those sweet butterfly kisses will make your heart flutter.