Our Monarch butterfly, Jello, left us for warmer climes. He emerged from his chrysalis, and in true homeschool community style we had friends and neighbours over who were all able to get a nice close look. We took turns letting Jello crawl all over us, but the truth of the matter was that Jello did not want to go.
I think he could sense evening approaching, and knew it was going to be chilly. After the sun started going down and Jello still was clinging to the crysanthamums where we had left him, we took him back inside and re-released him the next morning. He enjoyed warming his wings in a patch of sunshine, then took off for the maple tree that was in the morning sun. As we were looking up at Jello in the tree, L noticed that much higher in the sky was another Monarch butterfly. So we feel like Jello has a friend to travel with, and it made K feel a lot better about Jello leaving us.
We have learned a lot by fostering Monarchs this summer. K can talk about metamorphasis, insect body parts, distinguish boy Monarchs from girls, tell about migration and has also learned about loving something and letting it go.
My heart ached for her as she cried when Jello left.