When Every Bug Becomes a Friend

I found myself standing still, just watching my son kneel down in the sunlight, completely absorbed in the little world at his feet. A scooter tossed aside, rocks shifted carefully, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he searched for what he calls his creature friends. Lizards, centipedes, beetles, worms… each one is welcomed without hesitation into his circle of wonder.

To him, these aren’t just bugs or reptiles. They’re companions, treasures, living sparks of imagination. He greets them with the same excitement one might save for meeting an old friend, whispering to them and following their tiny paths with patience I don’t often see in his everyday energy. It’s as if he’s discovered a secret world hidden beneath the surface of our ordinary day, and in that moment, nothing else matters.

What captures me most is the look in his eyes. There is a magic there, the kind that only children carry before the world teaches them to rush, categorize, and overlook. His gaze is full of endless possibilities, unclouded by fear or labels. Where many adults might see something to avoid, he sees connection. Where we might dismiss something as insignificant, he sees meaning.

Through his lens, I am reminded of the beauty of curiosity. It is pure joy, unfiltered, sparked simply by noticing what is alive and moving around us. His imagination doesn’t need toys or technology; it comes alive in the dirt, the crawl of tiny legs, the flick of a lizard’s tail. Creativity, I realize, is often just attention paired with wonder.

Watching him, I felt something stir in me too. A reminder that life isn’t meant to be rushed through or reduced to checklists. There is magic all around if we are willing to crouch down, slow our pace, and look. My son doesn’t know it yet, but in his gentle fascination, he is teaching me how to see again.

And so, this weekend wasn’t just about bugs or lizards. It was about remembering that joy lives in the smallest of discoveries, and that imagination begins with curiosity. He has his creature friends, yes, but maybe they are also mine now, because through his eyes, I have learned to see them differently.

Reflective question: 🌱✨ When was the last time you let yourself see the world with the same wonder as a child? 🐛🦎