learning the hard way

maya and her friend, who we affectionately refer to as "little T" around here, are enthralled with bugs...caterpillars, worms, butterflies and moths....all sorts of creepy, crawly goodies...

however....

THIS

+

=

in an almost unbelievable stroke of coincidence - yesterday maya brought home another container with yet another bug and leaves in it (caterpillars have to eat, you know)....hours later I received an email from a friend warning of a caterpillar that causes severe reactions...picture included...and low and behold it is THE caterpillar that maya brought home. I send her to bathroom to wash everything that touched the bug and talk to her about who else touched the caterpillar....i google...i print and write a note to her teacher...and this morning, she was COVERED in hives...her hands swollen, red blotches all up her arm (where she let the caterpillar crawl) and all over her chest...some down her legs even....

had i not received the email with the info, i probably would have FREAKED out, to say the least...but now we know...and some anti-histamine and a few days and she'll be fine....she's learned the hard way - some creepy crawlies are cute, but should NOT be touched...