There’s an old cliché that says, “If you don’t know, teach.” I’ve been in that position for years with my kids on one particular subject: bee stings. Despite years of picnicking, camping and working outdoors in the summer as a day camp counselor, I had never been stung by a bee or wasp. Maybe part of that is because when I was a child, I was afraid of pretty much all bugs, and those that could fly and had the potential to cause pain topped the list. So if bees or wasps made their presence known, I skedaddled, if at all possible. But as I outgrew most of my fear of bugs, and realized that they really weren’t out to get me, because if they were, I would have been stung, I began to see them as a nuisance, not something to cause fright so much as annoyance. And when my kids would run away from them, arms flailing, I would tell them not to run, to stand still, and the bees would leave them alone. That is still good advice. I would also tell them that if they did get stung, chances are that they would be OK. It would hurt for a little while, but then it would go away. It certainly would not be bad enough to justify spending the entire summer indoors playing on the Wii to avoid the risk of being stung in the backyard. I said this in the knowledge that my brother is allergic to bee stings, and has been to the emergency room because of it. Now, after more than four decades on earth, I know whereof I speak. I was at a huge grade school crosscountry meet at Bunker Hill Forest Preserve with Frank and about 800 other kids, as well as various parents, coaches, etc. I was standing still, not running and flailing, when I felt something tickle my elbow and brushed it away with my other hand. As soon as I touched it, I felt the prick, and then the sting grew. The insect — I’m guessing the ubiquitous yellow jacket, because it did not leave a stinger in my skin — fell to the ground. First there was a small white circle on my elbow, which turned red and swelled a bit, like a large mosquito bite that you’ve been scratching too much. Within an hour it was about four inches in diameter. Within two hours it was fading, and by nighttime, it was just a small, itchy red mark. So now that I know what it’s like to be stung, will I teach my kids any differently? Probably not. Caroline’s already been stung once, and did not have an allergic reaction. Even though she had been afraid of bees and wasps, she pronounced it “not that bad.” If and when Frank gets stung, I’ll watch him for signs of an allergic reaction and offer ice for the affected area — but I’ll still encourage him to play outside.