"Won't my mommy be so proud of me"

Ethan is giving new meaning to the song.

He has a gigantic fear of bees stemming back to two summers ago when he was stung on the ear. We currently live in wasp heaven making the creepy little buggers a constant issue.

As the weather turned and the bees and wasps came out, Ethan refused to go outside. We talked to him about overcoming his fears. He tried but came running in the house screaming and crying. Sometimes he even refused to come in from the car if he had seen a bee as we pulled into the driveway.

Then he did something I found rather remarkable. On his own, he checked a book out from the school library on bees. He read it and discussed with Randal and I all these "friendly" facts about bees, as if he was convincing himself they were no longer a threat.

Armed with his new knowledge, he has taken on the role as Adelaide's protector from the bees. It seems as if he was trying to help himself by helping someone else. The two discuss bees like a pair of scientists. I've found them standing at the window looking for bees as Ethan imparts his wisdom on the subject.

Today, I was on the phone and didn't notice for nearly twenty minutes he hadn't come home after the bus had dropped him off. (I know, isn't that horrible?) I panicked and ran to the door. There he was standing a few feet from the front steps, mail in hand, waiting for a wasp on the door. No tears. Or screams. Just waiting for it to move on it's merry way.

I see him trying his best to coexist. And I am proud of him.