Here in central Florida, we have these creatures called “love bugs.” For those that haven’t seen them, they are shaped roughly like fireflies, but don’t glow, and they get their name from the fact that they are constantly mating. The things actually fly around with their ends connected to each other. How they manage that, I don’t know.

In any case, last Mother’s Day we hit Dunkin’ Donuts for some morning treats. At this particular place, you can sit on tall bar stools facing a shelf that runs along the plate glass window at the front of the store. I guess the idea is that you can gaze out at the parking lot while you eat. Seems strange, but the kids love it.

While we were sitting there, our oldest spotted a love bug crawling along the floor by the window. “Look, Mom! Look! It’s a – a…. Hmm… I don’t know.”

We all peered at it and I asked the question “It’s a love bug, isn’t it?”

“Well,” he said. “It looks like a love bug, but it only has one mouth.”

“What?”

“Love bugs have two mouths. One on each end.” He held up his hands to try to demonstrate with his fingers.

“No,” I said. “Those are actually two love bugs. Most times, love bugs fly around, uh.sort of, um…” I have to admit that my brain turned off as I realized I was talking to a 4 year old and a 2 year old, and I wasn’t ready for that conversation.

Seeing my distress, his mom chimed in: “connected.”

“Connected?”

“Um, yeah, like friends holding hands.” She finished.

He looked at her, confused. “But they’re not holding hands, they’re holding – “

“WANT A DONUT?” I asked, perhaps a bit too loudly. Fortunately, he did.