A is for Arachnid

My childhood featured many spiders, from my mother’s pet tarantula (Carmelita) to the beloved jumper who frequented our kitchen window (Charlotte). I was not raised to fear them, but rather to gently shepherd them outdoors as necessary.

As such, I’ve also taught my son to accommodate arachnids. He is terrified, but he respects them. He calls for help when a…