my monarch experience

[bbrenner]

What a soul stirring time this has been. I don't plan on doing it again - hurts the heart way too much. My first butterfly came out without the two back legs. I think I broke them when I moved him from one cage to another. He never got to fly. I nursed him for a week before he died. He became a friend. He liked to watch the computer while music played and a screensaver danced along. It was agonizing and so guilt enhancing - shoulda, woulda, coulda.
I thought about my life. I'm a nurse. Typical helper. I give up a lot to help others. I moved from another state to help my sister out - did I really help or just keep her from learning about life by enabling her to bypass the consequences of her actions? How many times have I done that?
I have 12 chrysalis right now. I am putting in the milkweed patch. I will finish my patch but I won't step in again by bringing a caterpillar inside. It's too painful.

[Andrea]

Hey bbrenner,

Your patients must really appreciate your caring nature.

Give yourself a good break from rearing after the 12 emerge and you may want to go back to it in a few weeks or months. With your caring nature you probably are very good at rearing cats.

I had a series of diasters with my cats in early spring for about 2 weeks and stopped for a few weeks then went back to it. I felt I had the hand of death.

Families can be a hand full!

Andrea