Ladybug Humbrella

Wilbur loves humbrellas. We all call them that now because that's what he calls them and we've come to think it's a much better word than umbrella. One of the joys of pre-school is the stuff you get serendipitously not knowing from whence it came. You also have to be willing to let things go serendipitously (I'm not as good at that), as items disappear: hence the appearance of random items in backpacks.

The Ladybug Humbrella is one of those items. It has been in Wilbur's cubby for weeks and weeks and weeks. Knowing that it wasn't his, I insisted that he leave it at school. But finally I gave in and let him bring it home. The sheer joy I see on his face is worth all the worry about who is missing his ladybug humbrella and will we get in trouble for taking it. Emery used to have a dinosaur humbrella but it's so Wilbur to love a flying insect humbrella. Wilbur is irrationally afraid of any flying insect (flies, butterflies, dragonflies, ladybugs, moths), but it's a love/hate relationship. He loves this ladybug and he dressed as a butterfly for Halloween. One of his favorite books is about a caterpillar changing into a butterfly.