Operating on a butterflies wing, it's not brain surgery folks, but makes my daughter think I rock.

[robin210]

We have in our back yard  a lilac bush, a lilac bush that I have thought was a giant weed. Yes, be jealous of my amazing green thumb, anyhow apparently butterflies like these "weeds". Thus, the more than occasional monarch butterfly, flutters by, and keeps me from cutting down this monstrosity. The other morning my husbands calls my daughter and myself to the front yard "look guys" he says, "look at this butterfly." We oogle over it for a few minutes, "it's so beautiful" I think, my daughter who is obsessed with bugs is in seventh heaven. So I realize that this butterfly is in our front yard, not because he is admiring our plush grass, but because his wing is broken (this goes totally over my 4 year olds head). We return inside, it literally starts down pouring, I have to go save this butterfly, he is going to die on my neatly mowed lawn.  Besides there is something so symbolically depressing about a butterfly with a broken wing. So I snatch him up in a little box, put him on my covered porch and google "how  to fix a broken butterfly wing." Jackpot, youtube video on how to do this....score, okay all I need are ten simple items, including glue, card-stock, toothpicks, and extra butterfly wings. Hmmm, think I can get my hands on all of that except the last item, oh well, going to give it a shot anyhow. After shooting my hubby a few sad (yet slightly sexy looks...yes comply with my craziness and you shall be rewarded ) He obtained these items from kroger. The next morning, Dr. mom and dad were ready to operate. My husband was responsible for transport and prep of the patient, and I would be the one preforming the surgery. After a few minor shenanigans (butterfly jumping all over the kitchen, my husband attempting to catch it-he wasn't "scared") The wing was repaired, and I was a rockstar to my four year, old, mainly because I allowed a bug in the house. The little guy was released, and appeared to be rehabbing his injury in out garden for a few days, and then he was gone. Not sure if he flew away or was ate by a bird (hopefully the first), The idea of showing compassion for things, no matter how small, will hopefully be in ingrained in my daughter, at the very least she got to have a bug in the house for a little while.

[evwsquared]

Sep. 8, 2010 at 12:55 PM

My guess is that you have what's actually called a butterfly bush, not a lilac (because they only bloom in spring). I hope that you continue to have many more butterfly, science-y adventures in the future!

[racheljessee]

Sep. 8, 2010 at 12:56 PM That's so sweet! Aww, Mia is gonna remember that for a long time! :)

[rebabeach2]

Sep. 8, 2010 at 3:53 PM

Excellent job mama!

Out of curiousity, what's the going price of extra butterfly wings at Krogers these days?

[robin210]

Sep. 8, 2010 at 6:19 PM

lol, Kroger was fresh out of them, luckly the little guy didn't require a transplant, only a repair:)

(Original Poster)

[goatmom4]

Sep. 9, 2010 at 4:27 AM

ugh we had that happen one winter and I had to get to a nursery to get him  a necter making flower to eat on   he lived 2 weeks   yikes i prefer the little caged creatures

[jenniferleah]

Sep. 9, 2010 at 8:52 AM

great lesson for your little girl :)

[Radarma]

Sep. 9, 2010 at 9:27 AM

I loved this journal!!!

[Mommyof2n0308]

Sep. 9, 2010 at 9:49 AM

love love love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dana63]

Sep. 9, 2010 at 11:48 AM

I just love this!! In our children's eyes the things we do makes us their hero. You do rock mom!!