What Do The Bugs Want From Me?

Me:  Mabes, why are you walking like that?

Mabel:  Bugs.

Me:  Bugs on the ground?

Mabel:  Everywhere. In the air.

Me:  Oh. Well, bugs live outside Mabes. We don't have to be afraid of them. They're much smaller than we are.

Mabel:  But they fly. They get on me.

Me:  Uh huh. But they don't hurt you, right? They just go about their business.

Mabel:  You mean they go to work?

Me:  Sure, they have jobs to do and they're out getting their work done.

Mabel:  (Snorts) That's ridiculous.

Me:  Look closely,  I think that one has a briefcase.

Mabel:  MOMMY!

Me:  I'm just kidding. But they have jobs, and our big feet sometimes make it hard for them to do what they need to do.

Mabel:  Because they're stinky?

Me:  No. Because they have to worry that we might step on them or be afraid and swat them.

Mabel:  Swat?

Me:  Swat means hit.

Mabel:  Hitting isn't nice. We don't hit people.

Me:  Well, we shouldn't hit bugs either. We just get out of their way and wish them well.

Mabel:  I'm not going to hit bugs. I'm not going to run from them either, because I might step on them.

Me:  Good idea Mabes.


A wasp floats lazily around Mabel. She stands perfectly still and screams at the top of her lungs - horror movie scream - pure terror. Despite this, the wasp takes awhile to float away.


Mabel:  See Mommy? While I was screaming I was thinking about good things happening to that bug. I wished him well.

Mabel:  Good for you,  Mabesy.

Me:   Well, it's just like this - I'm growing up.