7 Lessons Raising Monarch Butterflies Has Taught Me
Nature is a great teacher. One of the best. Caring for Monarch caterpillars and butterflies continues to expand my world and help heal my soul. Here I share with you 7 lessons that raising Monarch butterflies has taught me.
1. Patience
I am always so eager to raise Monarchs each Summer. In the Spring, I'm super excited and I start looking for eggs when the milkweed is just starting to grow. I have to remind myself that I usually don't find eggs until July. I start thinking they're never going to show up and then suddenly I find a bunch at once!
Then there’s all that happens once the eggs hatch! On average, once an egg hatches, it takes about 4 weeks from tiny caterpillar to butterfly. It’s an amazing and beautiful process and so worth the wait!
2. Commitment
Along with patience for the process, raising Monarchs takes commitment. The caterpillars need lots of milkweed. It’s the only thing they eat. As they grow bigger, the more milkweed they chomp in a day! And they poop a lot. They need clean environments so they love it when humans stay on top of that! Checking on them more than once a day is important!
3. Impact
As my family and I raise Monarchs, we are reminded how even the smallest, delicate creatures can have such a big impact on the world. Monarch butterflies are pollinators. What an amazing job helping our ecosystem! My experience is they can also have a very positive effect on one's day and mood. They're beautiful and amazing beings who bring about much joy and curiosity!
4. Inspiration
Each year I watch Monarch caterpillars create their chrysalises (or chrysalides). I know it's instinct for them to do this, but it's inspiring to see them trust the process. They turn to mush inside their chrysalises and wait (around 10-14 days) while transforming into an entirely different being! They let everything go to become what they are eventually meant to be.
5. Community
I have witnessed the raising of Monarchs bringing people together. When I was a children's librarian, it was so cool to see our community involved in, and curious about, the Monarch raising program a former coworker spearheaded. Patrons of all ages would look at the tiny caterpillars through magnifying glasses, watch chrysalises form and butterflies emerge (or eclose), and help name the butterflies. They asked us questions and checked out books on caterpillars and butterflies.
Since our family has started raising Monarchs, I love the ripple effect it has on our neighbors. Before we had our own flower garden, neighbors shared theirs for food for the newly emerged Monarchs. They also joined us in releasing the Monarchs out into the big, wide world. Some neighbors are now raising them with their families, too!
6. Being Human
As much as I love raising Monarchs, with all its joy and wonder, I go through some days of feeling discouraged and sad. As nature goes, the caterpillars and butterflies don’t always make it. I tend to think I did something wrong, that I caused them not to survive. Unfortunately, that can happen at times. When the caterpillars are very young and tiny, they can maneuver through the very small holes in the cheesecloth or tulle I covered their habitats with. Often times I would find them and get them back in their habitats. Other times, I didn't find them. I learn and grow and find better ways to take care of them. I’m reminded that I am human and I’m going to make mistakes.
7. Asking for Help
This past Monarch season was the first time I had taken on more than I could handle. I found a lot of eggs at once, more than I’m used to taking care of. I was very excited and didn’t really think that it would become too much for me. I was feeling frustrated when I realized it was all too much and more time consuming than I thought.
The beauty of this is that I was reminded of a BIG lesson in my life that got clouded over in my excitement - Ask for help! My ego can get in the way and cause so much unnecessary angst. Not only did asking for help with the caterpillars bring immense relief for me, the people who took the caterpillars loved raising them! It created so much ease in my life and mood, and created joy for others!
Bonus: Book Ideas!
Here's a little bonus for you all! Being a former children’s librarian, book titles came to me as I was writing about these particular lessons. I’ve paired a book with each lesson. Along with a little description from me, I’ve added links for you to peruse further details about each book. Check them out through your local library or favorite indie bookstore!
Patience
The Very Impatient Caterpillar, written & illustrated by Ross Burach
This story is the first in a series of laugh-out-loud picture books about the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly! I recommend reading all of them!
Commitment
The Monarchs of Winghaven, written by Naila Moreira, book cover art by Elly MacKay
A middle grade story about one girl's commitment to helping Monarchs and the environment. Be inspired to start your own nature journal!
Impact
All From a Walnut, written by Ammi-Joan Paquette, illustrated by Felicita Sala
A beautiful picture book about how one walnut can become something very big, impacting generations of hearts.
Inspiration
Catching Flight: Soaring on the Wings of Birds, written & illustrated by Rebekah Lowell
Just like butterflies, birds can inspire our ways of thinking and being. I am reading this gorgeous picture book on a nearly daily basis for its wisdom and healing reminders.
Community
A Monarch Butterfly Story, written by Melissa Kim, illustrated by Jada Fitch
This board book is a wonderful primer to learn about raising Monarchs and with one's community.
Being Human
I Am Human: A Book of Empathy, written by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Part of the fabulous "I Am" picture book series, this story helps us to have loving compassion for ourselves and others.
Asking for Help
Stuck, written & illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
A hysterical picture book about one way to solve a problem!
There are so many lessons to learn from butterflies and nature! I’d love to hear the lessons you’re learning! Feel free to comment below. I’m also happy to answer any questions I can about raising Monarchs or about my book recommendations.
