Spiders and Other Living Things

When our kids were younger, I tried to teach them that little critters should be treated with mercy unless they posed a threat. We would capture crickets and ladybugs and put them outside to save their lives, but I couldn't abide mice or spiders. Actually we even put a mouse out once! But I had no problem killing spiders because they bit my children and of course, the kids came first!
Our kids also disliked bugs and spiders but Suzanne especially hated them. Many times she was mercilessly teased by her brothers and sisters. All they had to do was say, "bugs!", or "spiders!" and it would upset her. She would even leave the dinner table in a huff if anyone uttered one of these words, crying, "You guys are so mean!" And more than once as an adult, she called us in the middle of the night to drive across town to rescue her from a big ugly spider! (One time it was a huge potato bug and the bowl she covered it with even jumped!)
Today, I have 2 adorable little guests at my house, Lilly and Ginny Brown. They live around the corner. They are in our ward and their Mommy had to go to the doctor this morning.
We have brought out the DVDs and I am reminded of the life and times of Miss Spider; "Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids", to be exact.
This one is a favorite of mine because it is socially educational in a different way. It begins with Miss Spider getting married. Then, after time, the couple has a family, but as they await the hatching of their eggs, one falls and has to be saved because each egg is special, it has a baby inside! Then, when the little ones are playing outside they find a chicken egg. As they realize that there is a baby inside, one of them decides to take it to it's mother, even at great risk to himself.
In addition to morality and the sanctity of life, this sweet story is about being kind, including to those who are not nice to us, and loving others unconditionally. It's a must in this world where families are attacked from every side.