Anyone ever tell you that you were opening up a can of worms? I did that, literally, one time. Well, actually, it wasn’t a can, it was a plastic container. And, then, the whole mess of worms was divided out, so it actually became multiple cups of worms. And, nevermind, let me just tell you the story.
A favorite topic in my preschool classroom is Insects and Bugs and Creepy Crawlies. I like to introduce the insect and bug world, and talk about ways that they are helpful and harmful. A highlight of the week is the huge container of soil which I bring into the classroom for us to use to examine earthworms. I get the worms from a local fishing supply store. I go for worms that aren’t too fat (that promotes squeezing) or too skinny (clumsy fingers can’t grasp them), but just right. Some preschoolers would rather not. But, many preschoolers are fascinated by the worms, and spend forever holding them, letting them wiggle and wriggle on their hands and arms. Kids crowd around the dirt container for the hands-on fun. It’s a day full of excitement and wonder.
One year, I came up with a genius plan. I decided that, at the end of the day, I would let each child take home several worms, which he or she could then put into the dirt at home to help fertilize the soil. All the details were worked out. I used clear plastic cups, and let each child add a few handfuls of dirt and 3 worms. I sat the dozen or so cups on a big tray and covered them very loosely with a sheet of foil. I left them to sit for about 15 minutes while we gathered our belongings to go home. At pickup time, each child proudly carried his or her cup of pet worms to the car to show the parent.
I was very surprised to find out later that many of the cups turned up empty. No worms. Ummm, where did the worms go? I did a quick check around the table, desk, hallway, everywhere the cups had been. I never saw any worms. I had no idea that the worms, who so politely wiggled in the large container of dirt, were scheming to make a break for it, as soon as they got a chance. The cups I used were very slick and tall enough that I didn’t think the worms would be able to wriggle up or out. But, wriggle they did. They escaped. The chances of them surviving wherever they landed in the building were probably slim. They would have been much better off waiting around for their imminent release in a new home. But, they didn’t know that. I never sent worms home again, instead, we released them into the school yard.
Which brings us back to the phrase you’re going to open up a can of worms. I’m here to tell you, that opening a can of worms is not good. Perhaps, your worms will stay contained, easily monitored, so that no one squeezes or drops or throws them. Perhaps, your worms will be happy in a supervised setting, and you will have confidence that they will not escape your watchful eye. But, opening a can of worms also leads to the possibility of worms venturing out on their own, unexpectedly going places you never thought they would go. In my experience, I don’t even know where the worms went, what havoc they might have wreaked. In no time at all, those sneakers were spreading themselves out in who knows what direction. I’ll never know how far.
You get that I am speaking metaphorically, right? I don’t really care it you want to manhandle worms, although it’s quite enjoyable. I’m talking about the can of worms that you introduce by opening a sensitive topic or questioning something, or whatever goes in a direction that might be controversial or contentious.
It’s not always a bad idea to open a can of worms. But, I am suggesting caution, and understanding that you might set into motion things that you can’t anticipate. And, you might not see the final repercussions, ever. Don’t open up a can of worms, just to see what happens. By all means, open those cans when it’s necessary. Just do your best to be prepared when those worms see the opportunity for freedom and go for it, even if it leads to their own demise. You can’t corral the worms, once they’re out there. Proceed with caution. That’s my two cents worth of wisdom. Those little buggers showed me what opening up a can of worms was really all about. I appreciate the insight. And I hope their little angel bodies are wiggling away over the rainbow bridge.
P.S. I had to look in the dictionary to compare the words 'wiggle' and 'wriggle'. So, apparently, they are very similar in meaning. The difference is that when you 'wriggle', you twist, turn, or bend as you move. When you 'wiggle', you make more of a back-and-forth motion.
So, there you go. Please use those words appropriately.