Observing ants
January 8, 2008 – 6:45 pmOne of CJ’s Christmas presents was an ant farm.
But not just any old ant farm. No, we got a SUPER COOL ant habitat with blue gel from NASA that the ants can tunnel in AND eat.
Witness;
Blue! Gel! From NASA! That the ants can EAT!
COOL, isn’t it?
The Friday after Christmas, our little vial of ants arrived on our doorstep. We promptly dumped them in their habitat and huddled around it, watching with bated breath for the tunneling to begin.
“I think they’re dead,” I said to Jay after five minutes. The ants laid precisely where we’d dumped them, some curled up, others sprawling, on their backs or their sides. There was very little movement in the habitat.
“Yeah, maybe,” Jay looked at the directions and then added, “but it says it takes them 24-48 hours before they start tunneling. Maybe they’re just, you know, stunned.”
“Maybe.” I was skeptical.
CJ wandered off to play with his other toys. Jay and I watched for a while longer, and then moved on to other pursuits. But every hour or so, we found ourselves drawn back to the ants, looking closely for any sign of activity.
When I went to bed, I was pretty sure that I’d paid $15 to have a vial of mostly dead ants express shipped to our doorstep.
But the next morning, to our delight, we found that the ants had perked up and started their work.
Oh the tunneling!
And now each morning I get up and pour myself a cup of coffee, then wander out to the living room to sit on the couch and stare at the progress of my little ant friends. Jay’s been spotted doing the same.
In the evening, we check in again. And all throughout the day. And sometimes in the night when I can’t sleep.
We literally spend hours glued to the front of the little clear box, peering in amazement as the ants slowly pry pieces of gel to create shimmering tunnels in the expanse of blue.
“They’ve started another tunnel!” one of us will shout, and the rest drop what they’re doing to run and see.
The other night Jay was on the phone and I was manning observation of the habitat when I saw something.
“JAY!” I shouted, loudly so he’d hear me over whoever he was talking to, “JAY! ONE OF THE ANTS HAS DIED IN THE TUNNEL!!”
He looked at me with one eyebrow raised. Seriously? his thoughts echoed louder than words, are you seriously interrupting my phone conversation to tell me about the ants?
But then, like the good husband that he is, he said into the phone “I’ve got to go,” and came over to witness the drama that was unfolding within the depths of the blue gel.
The funny thing about all this ant watching is that it gives me time to think. I contemplate the pointlessness of the ants’ fervent business. Why are they tunneling? What is the point? I am inspired by the vivid illustration that doing a little at a time, consistently, makes for BIG accomplishments even when you’re tiny as an ant. I revel in the up-close look at the daily life of a creature that is so different from myself.
Oh, the deep thoughts that circle round the ant habitat!
Last night I took CJ to swimming lessons and ran into an old coworker.
I told her that this week marks my 1-year anniversary of quitting my job to stay at home.
Her main question was what do you do with all your time?
The thought crossed my mind to, you know, tell her. About the hours of ant watching. The blogging. The staring into space. The erratic but very sincere attempts to exercise. How little I actually get done.
But as quickly as the thought appeared it was gone. It’s best not to be honest in these situations, I find. It takes too much explanation, and usually, people really don’t care all that much.
So I just waved my hands and mumbled something unintelligible.
Most people don’t understand things like ant-watching. Which is unfortunate, really. Because here’s the thing.
Ant watching is like flower smelling. It’s living in the moment. It’s understanding that something doesn’t have to be important to be worthwhile.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my year of not working, slowing down, and loosening up, it’s that THIS is how I want to live my life… observing ants.
(you get that I mean observing ants in a metaphorical kind of way, right? This is not a CAREER CHANGE or anything…)
***
Did you enjoy this post? Why not subscribe to email updates or the RSS feed.
Related Posts
Mother. Coffee drinker. Information seeker. Skeptic. Creative. Dreamer. Schemer. Absolutely Bananas.
By Erin on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
I totally understand. I have to continually remind myself that no book, or blog (gasp!!) is more important that what my kids need when they ask.
What a great post!
By Jen on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
Awesome post! It made me feel guilty though because my son has had an ant farm for the past 2 years that we’ve never bothered to put together. New years resolution - to actually use the ant farm and sea monkies and amphibian house and bird feeder that we bought for the boy two years ago. We need more “stop and smell the little bug” times.
By Rima on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
This was a really funny post, Bananas. I love the fact that your husband got off the phone to go see about the dead ant.
By Damsel on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
I just can’t resist… is anyone ELSE humming the Pink Pather theme? You know, the joke about what did the pink panther say when he stepped on the ant? “Dead ant, dead ant, deadantdeadantdeadantdeadant, dead aaaaaaaaaant…”
Sorry. TOLD you I couldn’t resist.
By Amy on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
Really good post! Funny and all deep and stuff. Nicely done!
By Lela on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
You’re gonna tell us where to get our Nasa Trained ants too right?
By nell on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
I gotta go get me some ants now, NASA ants natch, so when I find myself wandering aimlessly from room to room I can have a destination.
By rainbabies on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
I loved this post. I have had similar experiences, people not understanding just how awesome it is to make homemade chalk, or even enjoy the simplicity of observing ants.
It’s just so easy, even as a stay at home mom, to overlook the importance of these activities. Thank you for the reminder.
By Sherry on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
Oh wow! Tyler asked for an ant farm for Christmas and did not get it. I was thinking of getting one for his birthday this weekend… hmmm maybe he will get a BLUE one!! :o)
By Heather, Queen of Shake-Shake on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
Jenny, how can anything be more important than being with your child?
And thinking on the pointlessness of the ants….does all of our fervent business have a point? Any more than an ants? Really?
Whoa…i hope you have your cow boots on because the crap come out of me today….deep!
By the mom on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
Fabulous post. It reminds me of the HOURS that I have spent just watching my babies. There is no TV show/movie/YouTube that is anywhere near as entertaining as watching a baby.
My current favorite pastime is watching my 2-year old play “mommy.” I swear she could win an Emmy.
By Wendy on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
So, what happens to the ant carcass exactly? Do you retrieve it and bury it?
Just don’t lose any sleep watching the ants! Go to bed at night!!
By carrie on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
We have sea monkeys. I feel your pain.
By JaniceNW on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
I completely understand what you mean. I would have missed so many awesome things if I hadn’t been a sahm for 17 years!!! Like watching trees.
By thediaperdiaries on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
I really love this post on a superficial and a deep level. This ant farm sounds like an incredibly fun way to waste the time. I want one for Christmas!
By Mrs. Fussy Fussypants on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
Love it, ‘Nanas, Love it.
You’re funny, you’re deep, you do topless yoga.
By Sue on Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
You know what? I really needed to hear something like this today. Great post.
By The Daring One on Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
I like you because you do things like stop to smell the ants. It shows what kind of person you are and it’s a kind of person I want to hang out with.
By Heidi (minnesotamom.wordpress.com) on Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
“Stop and watch the ants.” It’s like a new philosophy for life.
By Jenni on Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
What a great post. Now I need to get off the computer and go see what “Mommy look!” for the last 10 minutes was about.
Thanks for the reminder.
By Midwest Mommy on Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
I need one of these!
By Kimmylyn on Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
I am curious about the dead ant. My son would flip for one of these..
But what I got out of this post was I totally wish I could stop and watch the ants. It goes by so quickly.
By Mandie on Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
Great post!! That is one of the coolest ant farms I have seen!! I’m definitely going to be getting us one of those! Right now we are waiting for some Ladybugs for our Ladybug Land (Christmas present to my son from my sister). It is amazing what they make us think about. Love your blog and have added it to my favorites!
By Life As I Know It on Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
My nephew got this for Christmas this year. When my son saw it he wanted one too.
But you know what? I spend good money with Mr. Bug Man every spring getting ants out of my house. Ain’t no way in he!! I’m going to voluntarily bring them into the house.
But, yeah, I get your metaphor
By Rachel on Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
Okay, that is just wildly cool.
I know a couple of nephews of mine who would be insanely giddy over one of those! Thanks for the heads up. Their birthdays are coming up. *gasp* over $15 shipping though!!!
By Queen of her Castle on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply
Although not as interesting to watch on a daily basis, butterflys are also a cool live science lesson for kids. You can buy the habitat and send off for the caterpillars (for MUCH less than $15). We enjoyed watching ours form a chrysalis and then hatch. WAY COOL. I can however relate to what you are talking about.
By monkeysandmarbles on Jan 15, 2008 | Reply
amazing post! i totally get what you are saying!
plus…i LOVE this antfarm! i can see Zander loving something like this in a few years!