My ‘fearless’ daughter showed me the treasure trove she hid in her jewelry box – ‘feral’ kids collect some weird stuff

AN amused mother has shared her daughter's unusual collection stored in her jewelry box.

While most kids would be creeped out by the items, she said her "fearless" child considers it a "treasure."

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Max Allison, who lives in Missouri, explained that her nine-year-old daughter, Lilly, developed an interest in bugs from a young age in an interview with The U.S. Sun.

"My daughter’s name is Lillian, but we call her Lilly. Her nickname ever since she was a baby is Bug, which is suiting," she said.

In a viral TikTok video that amassed over 3.4 million views, she showed off Lilly's "treasure trove" stored in her jewelry box.

After lifting the lid, Max revealed to the audience that Lilly owned a collection of cicada molts.

"Just girly things! Happy Mother's Day to everyone else with feral children who collect weird stuff," Max wrote.

Max, clearly amused by Lilly's obsession, explained that she loves and encourages her daughter's hobby.

"I actually helped her collect some of them!" she said.

She’s doing what she loves, and I’ll support it. Bugs and frogs are her special interest, and I love making those memories and spending time with her."

While Lilly embraces her "girly side," Max added that girlhood is multifaceted. As a mom, she's happy to cater to all of her children's interests.

"It’s so hard to describe Lilly because she is very much her own entity. She’s wild, strong-willed, silly, smart, and kind," she said.

"I think that video showcases her personality perfectly. Ever since she was little, she’s always loved playing in the dirt, collecting bugs and frogs, and playing video games, but she also has a side where she loves going with her older sister and me to get pedicures,

"She is absolutely a Swiftie, wearing jewelry, loves squish mallows. I have always tried to allow space for my kids to be who they want and do things they enjoy, and she just enjoys both ends of the soft and wild spectrum."

While many children would shudder at even the sight of bugs, she explained that Lilly's strong personality made them attractive to her.

"She’s pretty fearless with almost everything, actually," she laughed.

All creatures and wildlife on this earth are important and deserve for someone to care, even if some said creatures make us uncomfortable.

Max Allison

"I am also not afraid of cicadas. We live in the country so the girls and I have grown up exposed to all kinds of wildlife and have a healthy respect for our local creatures.

"They still definitely creep her older sister out, though. She is not a Cicada fan."

The supportive parent added that she has no problem with Lilly storing the shells in their home.

"As long as she’s not making too big of a mess. They don’t rot or stink, or decay, so I didn’t make her dump them out. They’re not hurting anything, so I let her keep them," she said.

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The mom added that while many viewers were equally as supportive of her daughter's endeavors and love of wildlife, a few trolls disappointed her.

"There were a lot of kind and nostalgic comments from people, which makes my heart so happy, but a lot of people commented hurtful things on the original and follow-up video like 'throw the whole kid out' or 'there’s something wrong with her' or comments that were so awful I’ve deleted them," she said.

"Anyone who has met Bug loves her and is lucky to know her. I know a lot of people find bugs and critters alike 'gross' or unlovable or scary, but I think someone who takes the time to notice them, love them, or have a healthy appreciation of them [is] so special.

"All creatures and wildlife on this earth are important and deserve for someone to care, even if some said creatures make us uncomfortable.

"People wouldn’t have been commenting things like that if it were a video of her playing with puppies or kittens instead.

"I think educating our children to appreciate these things and supporting them in their interests will imbue a kindness in them that I hope my daughters will carry throughout every aspect of their lives. It’s also just fun having wild kids.

"In the words of Steve Irwin, 'We don’t own the planet Earth, we belong to it, and we must share it with our wildlife.' All in all, support your weird kids [and] your local wildlife."

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