I have to be honest, I don’t love science.
I have fond memories of drawing pretty pictures of bacteria slides and plant cuttings in my 5th grade science notebook. But quizzes on genus, species, blobbedy, goobeldy gook, etc. etc. etc.? Not so much. Dissecting a fetal pig? Not number one on my list of most awesome activities ever.
BUT – I really wanted to participate in the Team Why Mommy Virtual Science Fair.
Maybe it’s because my own mother had/has cancer, but I feel an affinity for any mother who hears terrifying news, undergoes treatments ranging from uncomfortable to unbearable, and still finds it in herself to look her children in the eye and say, “don’t worry, don’t be scared – I’ll be fine.”
I don’t know Susan from Toddler Planet personally, but we both write for DC Metro Moms, and we both shared a treasured friend in Jean from Stimeyland.
So when Stimey (Jean) sent out the e-mail about supporting Why Mommy (Susan) on the day of her surgery with posts about two of the most important things in her life, children and science, I thought I could come up with something that would be fun for my kids and not too painful for me.
Previously, this is about as close to science as we had ever been:
In light of this, I wasn’t going to jump right into anything involving beakers and chemistry. I figured Earth Science was a better bet.
So this morning we set out on a bug finding mission.
I live in Reston, VA which is literally “the sticks.” It’s 20 minutes outside of DC (without traffic) and I’m not kidding when I say that the woods are right outside our door. We are surrounded by forest. So of course, we are surrounded by bugs.
I grew up in downtown DC, I went to college in the Bronx and I never planned on living anywhere but a city. So of course I now live in the woods. It’s Murphy’s Law. Or something like that… Either way, I’m not exactly a nature person, but I do appreciate the walking paths in my own backyard and the lovely little piece of nature that would have once made me wrinkle my nose in distaste. Dirt is so…dirty…
Anyway – it’s been unseasonably hot and I couldn’t face an hour walk through the woods, so I figured we’d just hit the closest playground and crawl around looking at yucky insects.
Here are some pictures of what we did:
No – you didn’t miss anything. There was very little bug seeking when swings and good climbing trees were right in front of us.
BUT there was a spider web in one of the trees:
What – you can’t see that? You are blind. Whatever – that was totally Earth Science right there. Spider webs are an example of the perfection to be found in nature.
And my sensory boy Oliver got very hands on with the clumps of pollen covering his beloved mulch.
But I didn’t want to fail our mission. So I got serious. I told the kids that on the way home, we were looking for bugs – no ifs, ands or buts. And everyone got on board.
We left no stone unturned:
But after three years of battling armies of ants in my house, watching screaming children run from the bees buzzing around my front door, and bathing my family in insect repellent every time we leave our home from April to October, I can honestly say that we didn’t find ONE FUCKING BUG.
Please excuse the expletive – but that’s how I feel about the Reston bugs right now. Fair weather friends indeed! When it’s all about scavenging fallen grains of rice and scaring children and sucking human blood, they’re EVERYWHERE. But the minute I want to snap some photos they turn all shy celebrity, hiding from the paparazzi.
Not cool, bugs…not cool at all.
But we did FINALLY have one brief moment of success on our way home:
That’s a worm!
Worms are gross. And totally Earth Science, thank you very much.
All in all – it was fun in spite of the general failure. And I took a few pictures of my kind of nature:
Now THAT’S more like it.
This was a lighthearted post about children delighting in the world around them and – well, yes – the science of it. But the reason for this post is far from light. I could never do it justice with my own words, so I’ll conclude with the end of Susan’s last post before her surgery. About how she will make her contribution to the future lives of women…people…all over the world:
We need the research.
I will do my part. Tomorrow, as the six tumors are removed from my body, they will be flash frozen in vials designed to keep them usable by scientists and medical researchers. The doctors will use what they need for me, and then the rest will be sent to the IBC Biobank for future research or out for the Target Now Complete testing, one of the first to look at molecular markers that may indicate additional options for my treatment. I’m trying to make the latter work out, but if not, I’ll send it to the Biobank in hopes that it will help someone else.
I’ve checked ClinicalTrials.gov for inflammatory breast cancer trials, and signed up for Avon’s Army of Women to be notified when a researcher is looking for people to participate in studies of new treatments, complementary medicine, or information dissemination, online or in my area. It’s important, this research, and the Army of Women is gathering 1 million women together who are willing to participate, locally in person or online, with and without cancer, so that the scientists can study what causes, and what cures, cancer. If you can, please join the Army with me — and say yes to just one study this year if the opportunity arrives in your in-box.
We need the research. And we need it now.
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That's a beautiful post, even if the bugs weren't cooperating :-) The pics of the kids are gorgeous, and I am jealous of your spring flowers…
Oh my heart aches for her Kate. Thanks for alerting to us to her blog…and for participating in that great experiment. Sorry the f'ing bugs weren't cooperative – but you did get some darn cute photos out of your mission! Your kids are so photogenic! And on a more serious note, I hope her surgery went well, and am awed by her, and people like your mom, who live through this and do so telling their kids everything will be alright. So mind-numbingly scary.
What the hell, bugs? How is that even possible? Worms freak me out. I have an irrational fear that someone will throw one at me.
Wonderful post!! Thank you so much for participating in the science fair!
We've got bees the size of Cadbury eggs (I'm talking the Creme variety, not the minis) buzzing around my backyard. I'll try and catch you one. No, no. Don't thank me.
Thanks for reposting Susan's Army of Women link, I wanted to enlist.
wow! what a great mom you are and trying so hard!!! you are awesome!
beautiful pics of your kids too!
xoxo
….and that is a great blog by the way!u
Wow. Very moving. Amazing one cannot find BUGS of all things. I size seven in a shoe that makes me look hot, okay, I get why that would be hard but bugs?
You did great… and GREAT-looking kids!
Here's to the WhyMommy Virtual Science Fair!
xo, as always :)
Just reading "clumps of pollen" made my eyes itch! Loved the pics of the tulips and your kids. s
Lovely pics, beautiful, touching post. The flowers! So lovely.