not so bitsy spider

Today, while I was doing dishes and cooking, and Jonah was playing in the cat food, as he does, you know, what with the big bucket with the fun spinny top, the scooping with the scooper, the stacking, counting, and restacking of cans with lovely cat illustrations on them…

I spotted a spider on the wall, just behind the cat food bowls.

Jonah was beside himself with delight. First he demanded that we move the bowls and placemat out of the way. Then, his view thus unimpeded, he proceded to “pace” back and forth around the spider, crawl/rolling from one hip to the other, crouching lower to the ground, leaning back, leaning forward. Sitting against the wall next to the spider.

I’m never sure it’s really safe to touch a spider. So my monologue was like this:

Wow, look at that big, black spider. Don’t touch it. Spiders are dangerous. Just look at it. Don’t hold it. You might hurt it. (Logic and consistency were less than important as I tried various tactics to keep the boy’s hands off the bug.)

Jonah’s monologue went like this:

Big. Black. Baidurrrr! Hold it! Touch it! Don’t! Loookat It! I Love You, Baidurrr! Kiss it. Kiss it. Big. Black. Baidurrr. Hold it! Look At It! Hanging out, Baidurrr.

So then I caught the spider and put it in a jar, with holes in the top. But this was not satisfying at all.

Open It! Nooooo!

So eventually we took it outside and let it go. And then we saw another spider, small and brown with a red spot, which was too quick for us to really get close to.

And that was that. Except, as we were walking down the path along the side of the house he said, “Remember spider.”

Yes, sir.