As a kid I remember doing a lot of science experiments with my family. I remember watching my brother test the strength of different glues at my dad's workbench. I remember sending cars of different weights down a ramp, swinging weighted pendulums, and photographing magnetic fields.

But, especially as a young child, there was always something very memorable about observing and interacting with nature. Growing and picking strawberries in our garden, planting beans and watching them grow to form a teepee, catching frogs and butterflies, and digging a hole deep enough that we hit clay. When visiting my grandparents I remember my dad taking me into the wood's and showing me the beds of grass where fawns slept the night before. We enjoyed fishing for bluegills off of my grandparents' pier. And I remember proudly showing my grandparents all of the bones I found after dissecting an owl pellet.

So when we were recently given the opportunity to take silkworm chrysalises home, I knew I had to say yes. Did I know anything about silkworms? No. Did I know what Mulberry leaves looked like? No. Did I really want a half dozen moths in our home? Not really. But I also knew that this was an activity that our kids might remember for a long time.

As a parent we never know which experiences will turn into lasting memories for our kids. But I know doing science experiments and observing nature with my parents and grandparents was quite memorable for me. So whenever I have the opportunity to share these experiences with my kids, I try to give it my all. Thankfully watching these moths emerge from their chrysalises has been great fun and much easier than I expected.