The mystery of the Wooly Bear

Mumsy Mess, that’s me – a mum and yes I am a mess! There is always something messy going on with me that makes life an adventure. Last week, Squeak, my 3-year-old daughter (not her real name), lost her caterpillar. We had found the beautiful Wooly Bear in our backyard and it had been living in a caterpillar-friendly environment in Squeak’s room.

She had taken her fuzzy pet out of its insect house to climb around on her arm while playing in her room. Wooly Bear did not make it back into its house and was now on the loose.

We could not find Wooly Bear anywhere. We checked the bottoms of our socks, under the bed, pillows, inside the duvet cover and in every crack and crevasse. I am a good detective and I can find just about anything but not Wooly Bear.

We were sad, this caterpillar was special to us. We had started to think of it as pet, a part of our family. Reaction to our plight on Facebook was overwhelming and included suggestions and sympathy.

About a week later when spring cleaning my bedroom, I noticed a cocoon hanging from my bedside table. Our Wooly Bear made the long trek from Squeak’s room to our room and gotten very comfortable. We are now keeping tabs on it, watching and waiting for Wooly Bear to change into a beautiful moth. We’ll release it outside… I don’t need my clothes to have more holes then they already have! Squeak was a little confused. Once we explained the change that Wooly Bear had undertaken, she understood, and is now eager to see her caterpillar change into a moth!
Here’s a great website for kids curios about caterpillars  http://members.shaw.ca/soohortsociety2/Page13_ThingsGoWrong_WoolyBearCaterpillar.htm
Follow my journey through parenthood as I share my favourite messes.

Shari Nelson is an advertising sales rep at City Parent and a contributor to the magazine’s social media, including Facebook and Twitter. She has a background in Early Child Care Education, a 3-year-old daughter, a 7-year-old dog, a fish and a hamster. She aspires to own chickens and goat – maybe a farm one day, a dream she shares with her amazing and talented husband.