Well, the children and I had another wonderful exposure to nature yesterday! We had a snake on our driveway. I was so thrilled. (Can you see the tongue in my cheek?!) Our three year old threw rocks at it, and then wanted to pick it up. Our five year old came screaming for me to come outside, quick! The 8, 11, and 14 year olds were trying to protect the snake from harm, while getting a good look at it before it disappeared into the woods.
I thought it must be a huge rattlesnake the way the children were carrying on! I admit I was a bit nervous as I headed out to the driveway. I wasn’t sure what I would find, and I didn’t know how I was going to respond. I don’t love snakes the way my oldest son does. I approached slowly, and in a stance that indicated I was ready to run at any minute.
What do you think I saw? A little grass snake no bigger around than my little finger, and about 15 inches long was making its way to the grass. WHEW! I got close then and looked it over good! How cute! I still didn’t want to touch it. But I wasn’t scared any more.
My son informed us that this particular snake is completely harmless. Our oldest daughter told me when they first saw the snake and the path it traveled. We watched it until it disappeared into the grass. We couldn’t tell if it went into a hole, or just got lost in a clump of grass. We encountered a big ugly spider as we were trying to move the grass around to see the snake again. I don’t pick up and move big ugly spiders. However, now my children know what a little grass snake looks like, they know how it moves, they know it wants to get away from people, and they know that mom won’t faint when she sees one!
My son told us about the spider, too. We learned a lot. I’m so glad to have my son here, or my kids would never learn anything about spiders and snakes but – “Look out! There’s a snake/spider! Get away from it!” I’m praying the Lord will give me more tolerance for these creatures He saw fit to create! Maybe someday, I’ll even have some curiosity about them!
Our nature journals are still packed – I guess we’d better hunt them up and get them out. Who knows when another great nature lesson will present itself!
We had quite an outdoor adventure today as well. We were observing a cicada slowly emerging from its crunchy larva shell. It was really neat...until a bird ate it! Well, another lesson about nature. :o)
Posted by: Momkmj3 | 08/06/2010 at 03:26 PM
OH! That's a bummer! But, it is also nature! How did your kids react to it?
Posted by: Sue | 08/06/2010 at 05:41 PM