Buzz About Beekeeping

Our friend, an experienced beekeeper, was kind enough to invite Gabriel to join him for a hands-on bee keeping lesson. His garden is home to a thriving hive, and he thought Gabriel would enjoy the chance to get up close with these fascinating creatures.

Gabriel made sure he was all geared up in a hive suit, wellies and gardening gloves with so no bees could sneak in. Our friend began explaining the basics: how to approach the bees calmly, the purpose of the smoker, and what to look for inside the hive. Gabriel absorbed it all like a sponge, nodding along as if he were already an expert.

It wasn’t long before we started the real beekeeping. Our friend opened the hive and began demonstrating how to handle the frames. He showed us the bees going about their busy work—collecting pollen, tending to the queen, and building honeycomb. Gabriel was captivated, asking all sorts of questions about their behaviour.

Our friend helped us carefully lift the frames, pointing out the different stages of the bees’ work. Gabriel was completely enthralled, asking questions about how the bees knew what to do, how the queen ruled the hive, and how honey was made. I couldn’t help but admire how naturally he took to the whole experience.

I, meanwhile, stuck to observing (and making sure Gabriel’s suit was still zipped tightly!). Gabriel, on the other hand, was right in the middle of things—carefully inspecting the frames and watching the bees.

A Sting in the Plan

Things were going smoothly, and Gabriel was completely captivated by the bees’ intricate world. I, however, had an unfortunate surprise coming. While our friend showed us how to carefully lift the frames from the hive, I must have gotten a little too close for comfort because one bee, understandably unimpressed with my proximity, decided to sting me.

Now, I’m not normally one to panic, but let me tell you—getting stung by a bee when you're supposed to be calm and collected is quite the test. The sting wasn’t terrible, but it definitely caught me off guard.

As I stood there wincing, Gabriel calmly told me to pull the sting out, while our friend advised me to wash the area with soap and water to keep it clean—both of them sounding far more practical than I felt in that moment!

While I was trying to deal with the sting, Gabriel stayed completely cool. “Mum, don’t worry, it’s just a little sting,” he said in that calm voice of his. I was still trying to shake off the shock of the sting, grateful that Gabriel was unfazed and could carry on while I took a moment to regain my composure.

The Joy of New Experiences

After we’d wrapped up the day’s beekeeping, our friend praised Gabriel for his keen interest and steady hands, and Gabriel beamed with pride. His curiosity and willingness to try new things never cease to amaze me.

Beekeeping may have been a new experience for both of us, but it was clear that Gabriel was the star of the show.

Conclusion: Follow the Buzz

So, what did we take away from our beekeeping adventure? Well, for one, I learned that sometimes it's okay to get stuck—as long as you have a kid like Gabriel around to help you out. It was a day full of discovery, teamwork, and, yes, a few moments of panic (on my part). But in the end, we both left with a new appreciation for bees and for each other’s strengths.