Bugs

When we first move to Texas, it was May and we literally watched (and felt!) the temperatures rise every single day.  They didn't start to drop again until October and for those first many months of our new residency, I thought we had moved into the center of the sun.   I came face to face with a wide range of emotions triggered by the weather on a daily basis and while I am pleased to say that I actively choose not to let my own misery get the best of me, the difficult process of acclimating to a new climate is something that I will probably never forget. 

As temperatures started dropping in October, I found myself enjoying regular walks with our neighbors and trips to the park with Nicole without the need for an attitude overhaul.   I was finally starting to enjoy our surroundings and I no longer felt the need to compulsively put sunscreen on.   Fast forward to January of that very next year and we were happily playing outside with our newly walking one year old, all while wearing short sleeves.  It was the first time I started to understand why people love the south.  It was also my first encounter with fire ants, which, was only the start of a very long journey. 

Playing in the leaves on December 31st, 2016

After one particular day of playing in our driveway and yard with some neighbor friends, every one-year old present was covered from the knees down in fire ant bites.  Each exploratory step our tiny children took into my front yard resulted in them encountering the thousands of fire ants that lived there too.  I felt shocked and helpless and all I could say to the other moms were, "the ants in Minnesota don't bite! I'm sorry I don't know what to do about this".  That very afternoon Shawn hired a pest control company which has been one of the best decisions we've ever made. 

I felt tangible relief that we had enlisted the help of professionals to educate us on what exactly was living in our yard and occasionally trying to migrate into our house as well.  While I was initially hopeful that our neighborhood playdates could resume free of bug bites, I have since learned that we will never have a yard void of fire ants.  After I let my disappointment pass, I began arming myself with coping skills and strategies that allow us to play outside (mostly) bite free.  Some things are just part of life and finding the right balance of action and acceptance always makes a big difference for my attitude.  I accept the fact that I will always share a yard with fire ants but I was completely unprepared to have them move into my house, which is exactly what happened this winter. 

I have many stories and lots of gross details about fire ants taking residence first in my living room, then in my bathroom and lastly having fire ant swarmers invade my bathroom by the hundreds.  It's been ongoing, disgusting and so discouraging.  I have never been so thankful for the relationship we have with our pest control company, but I have also never felt so helpless about a situation either.  After my most recent encounter with fire ant swarmers  our favorite pest control technician, Mr.Bill discovered the source of all of our in-home fire ant woes.  There is a large colony of fire ants living directly underneath our bathtub and regularly entering our home through the main water lines.  Like the true warrior he is, Mr.Bill took care of the problem for us late Monday night and we are newly hopeful that our house can return to a mostly bug-free zone. 

I am wishing you a bug-free spring as well!
Love,
Erica