For the first time this year, I saw fireflies last night. My daughter, Mia, saw them too. Even though she is 11 (almost 12) she is always overjoyed to see them emerge. It is as if they signal the real start to summer.
I think it is a rite of passage for most kids to catch the little bugs as they flit about in the night sky. Even the slowest, least coordinated kid can catch the ones that hover near the grass. Fireflies, or lightning bugs as they are also called, fill my childhood memories. I remember taking that jar with holes poked in the lid out into the yard. I would run and chase, backtrack and stand still. It was amazing how quickly we could fill our jars with the glowing and flashing lights.
Once we had enough to really feel like we had accomplished something, we would all unscrew the tops and open the jar. Then we would watch as the fireflies emerged from their temporary home.
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I hope that my daughters never lose their love of fireflies. I hope they always see the joy in catching, and releasing, these beautiful creatures. I hope they can pass this same tradition on to their children someday, too.
Happy almost summer everyone! <3
