42097609460

Parenting, Alex thought, could be exasperating.
“It’s a beautiful day and we’re not going to spend it sitting inside.
We’re going butterfly hunting. And not only that, you’re going to
enjoy it, okay?”
After lunch, Alex drove them to a field on the outskirts of town
that was filled with wildflowers. He handed them their nets and
sent them on their way, watching as Josh sort of dragged his net
while Kristen held hers tucked against her, in much the same way
she held her dolls.
Alex took matters into his own hands and jogged ahead of both of
them, his net at the ready. Up ahead, fluttering among the
wildflowers, he spotted dozens of butterflies. When he got close
enough, he swung his net, capturing one. Squatting down, he
carefully began to shift the net, allowing the orange and brown
colors to show through.
“Wow!” he shouted, trying to sound as enthusiastic as he could. “I
got one!”
The next thing he knew, Josh and Kristen were peering over his
shoulder.
“Be careful with it, Daddy!” Kristen cried.
“I will, baby. Look at how pretty the colors are.”
They leaned in even closer.
“Cool!” Josh shouted, and a moment later, he was off and
running, swinging the net with abandon.
Kristen continued to study the butterfly. “What kind is it?”
“It’s a skipper,” Alex said. “But I don’t know exactly what kind.”
“I think he’s scared,” Kristen said.