Summer vacation 2010 – fireflies

In summer, we visited Taiwan for six weeks and spent some time with my part of family (Alexander’s grandmother, aunties, and relatives).


We wanted to see some fireflies at evening in Taiwan. I thought it would be a great experience for kids. I prepared Alexander with the idea few days before the event, then, that morning, reminded him, again, a few hours before we went. It was a beautiful day and everything went as planned. We drove to the country side of Kaohsiung city (South of Taiwan) and it was getting dark. We walked along a small path in grass field and farm houses. We waited and saw some blink lights flicking in the grass. It was beautiful. Meiying, Victor, and friends started to use their caps to catch fireflies. Alexander started to panic and kept asking to go home. I tried to keep him have fun and showed him fireflies and the starry sky at this beautiful place. Alexander started to shake his body, cried, and walked away like he was lost. My sister followed him, held him, and walked with him to the car. I had to collect my kids and informed my friends we were leaving, then went after Alexander & my sister. As I watched him, he looked as though he were lost and panicked. I felt as though I was going to cry along with him. I held my tears and used my calm voice and held him in the car for a while. I asked him and found out: Alexander panicked because he was worried we would get lost in the field and never find a way back home. Alexander cried because he could not handle the mixed smell of dirty water, soil, and grass. And it was dark, and we are in a very strange place. Alexander could not handle it at all.

Here we go, we had to leave even though we just got there. I held Alexander and could only assure him we were fine and would be home soon. That night, I cried and watched him sleep with his body curled in a blanket. I kissed him and make different plans for rest of summer vacation activities – No more evenings in a strange place.