Where have all the Doodle-bugs gone?

Where have all the doodle-bugs gone?

There was a time when I would receive jars full of dirt and grass and leaves and a few sticks. My job was to hold and protect the jar from unseen and mysterious dangers. After I had the jar in hand and I assured my youngest daughter, Sophia, that I did indeed understand her instructions, she and big sister, India would go out into the wilderness jungles of our yard and bring back captives. Thankfully most of the captives were doodle-bugs. Slow and easy to catch, they put up no fight at all except perhaps to roll into a tiny little ball.

Most of the time they were doodle-bugs, not all the time. I knew there was something they considered extra special when they both entered the house together yelling, "Daddy, Daddy!" and one set of tiny hands beneath the hands of the proud hunter who was brave enough to capture perhaps a cricket or grasshopper. The girls, working together as they will never work together as adults would hurry over to the jar, which had better be in my hand or very, very close, step in step with amazing speed. No tripping and very little communication they could move as one single unit not unlike conjoined twins. The concentration on each face was always comically intense as if they were on the bomb squad and they were transporting something nuclear.

"Open the jar Daddy! Quick, before it bites me!" one or the other would squeal. Then as always, I would explain that if the scared, little-girl-sweat covered inch-worm could bite her, it would have already. That did little to lessen the worry of an unannounced sting, that never happened. I would then, again, assure my children that crickets, grasshoppers, dragonflies and doodle-bugs and lady-bugs did not bite or sting.

"We know doodle-bugs and lady-bugs don't bite Daddy!"

"And?" I would ask, because obviously my list of what won't bite is a little longer.

"Well, just because a dragon fly never bit you doesn't mean it can't bite. Right Daddy?"

"Right." Defeated.

But, where have all the doodle-bugs gone?

Several hours after the safari began the children, by now Ethan, my son and their older brother, would be involved and it would be time to survey the day's captives. The jar would be scrutinized carefully by all angles and in varying light. Then, as if I had not seen the jar myself all day, it was brought to Daddy for approval. Approval they got as I enthusiastically and slowly searched the jar for every little inhabitant. I also got to hear the stories, the stories of the days hunt, like a guide on the savanna.

After the post-hunt festivities I would then have to remind Sophia that, though she placed some of the necessary items in the jar and though Ethan punched several holes in the lid and she thoughtfully placed a tiny bottle cap of water in the small zoo for the comfort of those captured, we would still need to release them after a spell.
This invariably lead to questions I had trouble answering, followed by tears because she quickly decided these creatures were her pets and it was her job, calling, vocation, to care for them. I would point out that even though it would appear she had thought of everything, we really didn't know what most of our guest ate, she said, "Um...Daddy, I think they all eat grass, and there is grass in the jar. See?"

"Yes, I see the grass but I don't KNOW they eat grass and you don't either really. Now do you?" In which the reply would be a pouty "No...but I'm pretty sure." I would then be forced to use the old stand-by. The stand-by is a double edged sword and it goes like this,"But Honey, what if the doodle-bugs that you caught are children and their mommies and daddies are looking for them right now? Wouldn't you feel bad?"
"What if they're not children Daddy? What if they're all grown ups?"
"Well then, baby, perhaps their children are waiting for mommy and daddy doodle-bugs to get home from work and they're probably getting pretty worried!" This worked. All the time, every time. The downside is that they could use the very same logic back at you when you least expect it. Like when a squirrel decides to end its life under my tires and the kids know it. It can be a fight not to bury the darned thing and mark the grave so its family would at least know there had been a horrible accident.

However they learned that we could borrow the creatures that made our yard their home but we could never keep them, after all we don't own them. They are not pets.

But...where have the all the doodle-bugs gone?

These hunting trips could sometimes grow quite sporting. Rarely, but sometimes, they would find larger and more formidable prey, lizards, frogs and on occasion the dreaded snake. For the lizards and frogs Ethan was a fine hunt captain and his orders were followed to the word. I was and still am amazed at the sway that boy held during the hunt for "big game". He was expected, however to get results. You could hear him out there confidently commanding the hunt and I was proud him. As the target was stalked close the tension rose and Ethan kept a constant sharp eye on the target even as his sisters, who were following orders but were, in fact, in charge, especially the youngest. She picked the object. Always. She would also let her bother know if he allowed one to get away all the while India would just smile, happy to be outside on a nice day.

The most exciting moments and the very pinnacle of of the hunt, I mean..it doesn't get better than a snake. That's right a snake. Now let me first say that they never, ever actually caught one. Nor, did they hunt one unwatched, they couldn't because the very moment one was sighted or thought one was sighted I was instantly informed.
"Daddy! Bubba found a SNAKE!"

"Well tell him not to touch it till I get a look!"

"We know!" And he didn't, and they didn't. A snake that found himself stalked by my children was a very safe snake indeed though the snake may not know it and the children liked to think they were actually going to catch it, this time. They would track it and wait, wait for the go-ahead by me. I would investigate and make sure they were not in danger. Then watch and give them space to learn.

Where have all the doodle-bugs gone?

India was an important team member though she was never really a hunter. He job was a scout and extra hand, she would hunt for hours but didn't really care too much if anything was ever caught. Don't misunderstand, she liked the hunt, and like to catch things and had wonder in her eyes as much as most other children. She would look at the captives also, but never as long as the other kids. She began to find other activities first. She is independent and though she is a part of the team it is fine if the team doesn't always need her. She does not need the team. She likes the team.

Sophia now catches frogs herself. Its no-big-deal Dad. And lizards. She will still get her brother for a snake and sometimes I'm still told but they mostly just chase it under the fence.

Ethan doesn't hunt at all anymore unless he's summoned back to duty by his little sister and only to chase a snake.

I haven't seen a jar full of doodle-bugs in what must be several years now.

Where have they gone?