Have you ever seen a worm invasion? Well, it was a first for me. We had a big day of rain and storms. I looked on my front porch and saw it was covered in worms — big ones, small ones and everything in between. I took several steps back into my house and typed into Google, “Why do I have all these worms on my front porch?”
My AI overview pointed out that it was due to the rain waterlogging their soil and the earthworms needing to come to the surface to breathe, otherwise they would suffocate. So basically harmless and a little creepy, but as soon as it dried up, they left.
It reminded me of one spring when the boys started digging for worms — in a newly created hole on my lawn (eek!). They had a whole bucket full that they proudly showed me. The worms were released shortly afterward. I didn’t mind then, because the kids were outside.
Actually, for several years during all the seasons, the local metroparks’ nature center was our place to be. It’s free and it seemed like no matter how many times we went, they discovered something new.
It was my way of filling that nature bucket — and I learned some things, too. But mostly, I loved seeing it through their eyes.
It’s important we foster that curiosity by letting our kids explore the outdoors, whether we do it through programs, which we highlight in our Camp and Summer Programs Guide, or just by heading to our local park.
This is especially true now more than ever, when we have technology at our disposal and everyone is using it.
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, either. In fact, look at our story on how parents-to-be are using smart devices to make their lives a bit easier.
We also talk about how families can still use technology, but have to set boundaries at home or away. It’s a good time to talk about it now, as we head into the sunny season where routines become a little looser.
I know that without technology, I wouldn’t have solved the worm invasion mystery or known why I felt a really big boom, which sounded like a tree hit our house, on Saint Patrick’s Day morning. (It was only a sonic boom from a 7-ton meteor, no big deal.)
Of course, instead of being online this month, my hope is to celebrate a Northeast Ohio spring outdoors with my family, rain or shine (and hopefully no snow, and friendly worms.)
