Of caterpillars and mornings...

Kids are really very inquisitive.  They ask a lot of questions and sometimes, the questions are endless.  I do not want them to stop questioning- ever.  I want them to continue to ask questions.  I believe they learn when they ask.

In order to fuel this attitude, I normally bring the kids to the yard to play every morning (that's crossing my fingers that they would wake up a bit early).  I want them to be aware of their environment and to ask questions about it.  The normal question they would ask is, "What's this  Mama?", "What's that Mama?".  And that question brings music to my ears.  Curious.  I want curious kids.  I identify the object they are pointing.  Thereafter, they observe the object and shout with glee at every movement.

Just recently, they discovered caterpillars.  Tons of caterpillars hanging and crawling in our Rambutan Tree and caterpillars which fell off the tree.  "Mama, look! Caterpillar!  Help it Mama, help it!"  And I would get a leaf, try to scoop the fallen caterpillar and then put it on a leaf on the Rambutan Tree.  "Thank you, Mama."  That brings a big smile on my face.  And I feel like a superhero who just saved the world.  However, the branches had to be eventually cut-off.  And they were a bit sad.  "Aw, Mama.  Kawawa ako.  La na caterpillars."  There were no more caterpillars that can be seen hanging or on the ground.     They eventually forgot the caterpillars.

However, this morning, Caleb saw a caterpillar on the ground.  "Mama, look! It's a caterpillar!"  Oh the joy in his eyes.  So we hurriedly look for the source of the caterpillar.  Lo and behold, our Rambutan Tree was once again brimming with caterpillars.  Calix said, "Mama, they're not moving."  And I said they were still probably sleeping.  Calix thereafter shouted, "Good morning!" hoping that they would wake up.  The caterpillars were still not moving.  Resigned to that fact, Calix eventually said, "Mama, wala man.  They're still sleeping."