As we get into late spring and nature blooms around our home, you’ve grown a fear of… bugs.
There tends to be a lot of bugs that emerge now — flies, bees, ants, butterflies, spiders, dragonflies. You get the idea. And you seem to be afraid of most of them. You’ll be outside on a swing or playing with bubbles and suddenly you’ll yell “bugs!” and run inside as quick as you can, peering back out the window to see if we’ve done something about the situation. We usually don’t. You’ll learn to get over your “entomophobia,” which you can impressively pronounce.
This is all the opposite of Matteo who proactively spends time looking for bugs but especially gooey slugs and snails. Boys will be boys.
Thankfully your fears are limited to bugs because you’re very, very interested in animals and certifiably obsessed with kittens. My God, we have talked about kittens for hours and hours now. I think you literally put yourself to sleep thinking about kittens. You’ll talk about what you’ll name kittens and how you’ll raise them and sleep with them and cuddle them. You’ll play veterinarian and specialize in cats, though you insist you’ll treat a range of animals, including turtles and even people. I like the career pathing in your mind, so I encourage the behavior.
I remind you that kittens grow into cats, and you rebut that you’ll just get another kitten. That logic is the very reason why we are not getting a kitten anytime soon. A lot of families have been getting “quarantine pets” given all the time spent at home. We’re not quite there yet with the temptation of a kitten. Before you came along we had an awesome cat, Fabrizio, and we loved that cat but I want to make sure you can love a cat beyond its kitten stage. We also need to make sure both you and Matteo are a little older so you don’t literally squeeze-with-love a kitten to death. When the time for a cat comes, we will also need to keep an eye on Greta as she has become quite the cat-chaser. We need harmony in our household, not a food chain.
On a related note, we had a close call last month with the family beta fish, Rhubarb. Your Mom changed the tank water and filled it high. At some point that evening, Rhubarb got curious or suicidal and jumped out of the tank. Your Mom found him on the kitchen counter and had no idea how long he’d been out of the water. He looked dead. She scooped him up and put him back in the tank. He showed some signs of life but we thought he was a goner. After a day of inactive behavior he really came back to life. We are truly in shock he’s alive as fish don’t make it long anyway. I’m not sure how to take that event as a sign, but it’s a reminder of why we have pet insurance for Greta.
Until we get a new furry friend, your Mom and I will gladly take all the cuddles (and hand-holding) you have to give. In fact, that may be the most honest as to why you’re stuck without a new pet for awhile. We’d prefer the affection our way while we can get it.
Love, Dad