“Ladybugs, Katherine. Lots and lots of ladybugs.” ~ Frances, Under the Tuscan Sun
In May my Youngling and I started searching for ladybugs. Ladybug larva to be exact. She is obsessed with them and I think she actually likes them better when they are larva than when they are actually round red ladybugs. Of course I’m right in there with her looking all over for the little red beetles, and though I like them, they do make my skin crawl. The things you do for love, hey?
Anyway, we looked all over for weeks for these darn bugs. We made big expeditions that Darwin would have been proud of, yet every time we returned home empty handed. Finally, after another little sad and disappointed face, I conceded defeat.
“No ladybug larva this year,” I soothed. Or tried to. So, I did what any other parent would do if their Youngling was sad and disappointed. I bust out the ice cream and tons of snuggles. It worked. Complete meltdown averted. Phew!
Days passed, May turned into June and the school year was winding down. It was the second last Wednesday before school was out and it was around 6 in the evening and my Youngling and I were in the backyard. The sun was still in the sky, but it was that early evening kind of sunlight that gives a beautiful golden sheen to everything. My Youngling and I were making giant bubbles with a huge bubble wand, hoola hooping, and giggling uncontrollably. Suddenly a shout rang out. It was my Youngling.
“LADYBUG LARVA! LADYBUG LARVA!” my Youngling cried, ecstatic and exuberant and so happy she was hopping up and down. She grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the wild rose bush we have in our back yard, and wouldn’t you know it! The leaves were absolutely covered with ladybug larva in all different sizes. They were crawling all over the bush, happy as happy could be. My Youngling and I hugged each other tight. The ladybug larva had come to us! It was one of those moments of pure and simple joy. We were just happy to be there, at home, in our yard, with the ladybug larva.
It’s one of those moments I’ll never forget. The smile on my child’s beautiful face and the zen and happiness I felt knowing that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. It made me think that you can spend your whole life looking for happiness, a happiness that can elude you, when it’s been there all along right in your backyard.
One of my favorite movies is Under the Tuscan Sun. It’s a movie that has gotten me through some tough times and has meant a lot to me, and that may sound funny but the message and the story in this movie somehow resonates for me. It also has one of my Youngling’s favorite bugs in it. It’s a beautiful movie.
Ladybug Larva
Oh, and wouldn’t you know it but I was so caught up in the moment I forgot to take pics. But I did find a pic to show you what ladybug larva look like. 
