In an attempt to avert impending tragedy, Morgan Freeman has given honeybees access to his farm.
The world’s most beloved storyteller aspires to provide a fresh narrative for the declining honeybee population by granting them access to his 124 acres of property. In 2014, the 81-year-old actor turned his Mississippi property into a bee sanctuary after taking up beekeeping as a pastime. He planted acre upon acre of bee-attracting plants, such as clover, lavender, and magnolia trees, and brought in 26 bee hives from Arkansas.
He gave the bees sugar water to help them get used to their new habitat, and he claims that even though he hasn’t worn a cap or protective suit, he has never been stung. Freeman’s mission is to assist in repopulating the declining honeybee population; he does not collect honey from the bees or interfere with their hives.
Building a bee sanctuary, according to Freeman, is his way of contributing to the reconstruction of “the foundation of the growth of the planet.”
In a 2016 Larry King Live interview, Freeman described his motivation for converting his property into a haven for honeybees.
“Bee colonies have been losing a great deal, especially in this nation,” he informed King. “To the point where scientists are now warning that this is dangerous.”
Shortly after moving the hives to his property in 2014, Freeman spoke with Jimmy Fallon about his passion of beekeeping. “There is a concerted effort for bringing bees back onto the planet,” he added. “I believe they are the basis for the planet’s growth, the vegetation, but we are unaware of this.”
Honeybees and other insects are essential to human crop pollination. The loss of pollinators will negatively impact our food supply. Losing the bee population could have catastrophic effects on life as we know it.
Why do bees go extinct? There are several solutions, and a lot of them include human interference.
In a poll released last year by Auburn University and University of Maryland, American beekeepers reported that 40 percent of their colonies had collapsed the year before, a 33% rise from the year before. There are several different causes for the die-off.
For the past ten or so years, some bee species have been affected by colony collapse disorder. Numerous potential explanations have been proposed by scientists, including pesticides, environmental stressors, a lack of genetic variation within colonies, and mite infestations.
The survey’s researchers speculate that bees could be another victim of climate change. The weather and temperature have an impact on bee food and forage, according to Geoffrey Williams, an assistant professor at Auburn, who spoke to Bloomberg. It should be rather evident that bees that are already on the verge of collapse will fare less well in the event of a sudden and drastic change in the weather.
Moreover, pesticides are at fault. Commonly employed in agricultural regions, neonicotinoid pesticides kill bees and prevent them from reproducing. According to scientists, these chemicals gradually reduce bee populations and are especially hazardous to queen bees, which has an impact on bee populations over time.
Bravo to Freeman for building a wholesome haven for honeybees. We all have a responsibility to the environment, and every action we take to safeguard the environment has an impact.
I Took My Grandchildren to Disney World and Now My Dil Is Mad at Me
When my son, Ethan, set up this account for me and insisted I share my recent dilemma, I was skeptical. According to him, my understanding of what’s normal and acceptable has always been a bit off-kilter.
He was convinced that once my story hit the internet, a wave of virtual finger-wagging would set me straight. So here I am, recounting the tale that led to my current status as the family pariah, all because I took my grandkids to Disney World.
A grandmother greeting her grandson | Source: Getty Images
Ethan and his wife, Sarah, had been planning to attend a friend’s wedding in Mexico. It was supposed to be a chance for them to unwind without their kids. While they were away, they wanted me to babysit their children, Lily, 5, and Jack, 4, for what would be a stretch of four nights and five days. Initially, I laughed at the idea.
Not only did it seem like a marathon of caregiving, but Sarah had previously made it clear that her family took precedence over ours. The notion didn’t sit well with me, and I found it particularly irksome that they would ask me, despite her mother being the apparent go-to for such favors.
Two siblings playing together | Source: Getty Images
However, Ethan’s emotional plea swayed me. He argued that it was a rare opportunity for them, a plea that tugged at my heartstrings, even as a voice in the back of my mind accused them of manipulation. I was supposed to be there for the kids whenever they wanted, apparently. But, I agreed.
During their absence, an invitation to a birthday party at Disney World came my way. It seemed like a splendid opportunity to do something special with the grandkids, and it honestly didn’t cross my mind to consult Ethan and Sarah. I thought, since I was the one looking after them at the moment, I could take them wherever I wanted, within reason, of course.
A grandmother with her grandson | Source: Getty Images
In my defense, Sarah often talked about taking the kids to Disney “some day,” but it always seemed like one of those far-off dreams, not an imminent plan. It was the Magic Kingdom. I had to take the kids. Seeing how Sarah’s plan to take them was probably years away, I knew I had to show them around the place. And what better time than while their parents were away?
The trip wasn’t too bad and we had a great time. I honestly felt like I was truly bonding with the kids. They tried almost every ride they could go on, we took photos with every costumed hero and princess, and they had bucketloads of treats. It truly was a magical time.
Upon their return, I was blindsided by Sarah’s reaction. The news that I had taken Lily and Jack to Disney was met with tears and accusations. She was devastated, claiming I had robbed her of a milestone — witnessing their first Disney experience. Her words stung, branding me as entitled, which only poured salt on the wound given her past demands for childcare.
A girl and her grandmother at Disney World | Source: Getty Images
Ethan, ever the mediator, asked me to apologize, to mend fences over what he deemed a significant oversight on my part. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The bitterness of being labeled as entitled, coupled with their disregard for my initial reluctance, hardened my resolve. I saw no reason to apologize for enjoying a day out with my grandchildren, especially when the decision to babysit had been a concession on my part.
The fallout was immediate. Ethan insisted that an apology was necessary, not just for the sake of peace, but because Sarah felt robbed of a precious moment. To them, my actions were thoughtless, a blunder that eclipsed the joy of the birthday celebration. But to me, it highlighted a deeper issue, a lack of appreciation and respect for my boundaries.
An angry woman | Source: Getty Images
Our standoff has since grown into a chasm, with Ethan hoping that sharing this story would enlighten me to my supposed misstep. Yet, as I lay all this out, I find myself grappling with the complexity of family dynamics, the expectations we place on each other, and the weight of decisions made with the best intentions.
I can’t help but wonder if the issue at hand is not just about a trip to Disney, but something more. Perhaps it’s about understanding, communication, and the unforeseen impact of our actions on those we love. Or maybe it’s about the boundaries we draw and the spaces we navigate as family, where the lines between right and wrong blur in the face of love and responsibility.
An older woman fighting with her son | Source: Getty Images
As I share this tale, I realize that my son’s prediction might come true. The court of public opinion may indeed find me at fault. But more than seeking others who would tell me that I wasn’t in the wrong, I find myself reflecting on the intricacies of human relationships, the mistakes we make, and the lessons we learn along the way.
I realize that I could have let the parents know that I was taking their kids to Disneyland. I see how I robbed them and their mom of a bonding experience, but I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get closer to my grandkids. Maybe this will blow over, but in the meantime, I have to reflect on my actions.
A woman asking advice online | Source: Getty Images
In the end, maybe Ethan is right. Perhaps the internet will deem me the villain of this story. But as I think about the events that unfolded, I can’t help but hope for a resolution that bridges the gap between us, one that acknowledges the complexity of our feelings and fosters a deeper understanding among us. I seriously hope my son, his wife, and I can overcome this. But in the meantime I really want to know: Do you think I was wrong?
Here’s another story about a grandmother who was given strict rules when babysitting her grandkids.
My DIL Handed Me a Humiliating List of Rules for My Grandkids, So I Taught Her a Lesson
I’m a doting grandmother. I love spending time with my grandkids. Even before I became a mom, I couldn’t wait to be a grandmother!
But then this happened, and things took an unexpected turn.
My son, Michael, his wife, Linda, and their three children live about thirty minutes away from me. Michael is constantly popping by with the kids on Sunday afternoons. Ice cream and pool time at Grandma’s has become a norm.
Three children looking at a tablet | Source: Pexels
Recently, Michael and Linda asked me to babysit the kids for a weekend while they visit Linda’s ill mother. It made sense because I knew that Linda’s mother was battling cancer, and the thought of having my three grandkids run around her home just made me anxious for her part. She needed peace and time to recover from her chemotherapy — Michael told me that she recently started it.
Anyway, it seemed like a simple request, right?
I agree.
Chemotherapy IV bags | Source: Pixabay
That was until Linda came over two days before they were scheduled to leave for their visit. She popped in during her lunch break to hand me a list of rules.
“These are important to Mike and me,” Linda said, leaving the envelope with the instructions on the table.
Rules to look after my grandchildren?
At first, I wasn’t angry because I knew all parents do things differently. But as I sat down with a cup of tea and read through them, I was utterly stunned.
Person opening an envelope | Source: Pexels
The first rule was a real kicker — no touching their fridge for myself. The refrigerator was off-limits for me, and I was instructed to take my own food.
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