FROM MY LENS

What Is With Mushroom? 

It started with a question. A simple, curious observation from my son, who was just 6 years old at the time:
“Mommy, why do mushrooms grow after it rains?”

He had noticed these small, mysterious fungi popping up in our backyard, especially after gentle rain showers. Each sighting would light up his face with wonder, and he would eagerly point them out to me with excitement only a child could show.

At first, I was simply amazed by how observant he was. But what struck me more deeply was how his fascination grew with every discovery. What made mushrooms so intriguing to him? Was it their sudden appearance? Their strange shape? Their quiet, magical presence beneath the trees?

Instead of brushing it off, I chose to nurture his curiosity.
We talked about mushrooms. What they are, how they’re different from plants, why they love damp soil. I bought him books filled with mushroom facts and illustrations. We watched videos together, learning about different species, spore release, and even the incredible mycelium networks beneath the ground.

His enthusiasm didn’t stop there. Sometimes after school, he would tell me,
“Mommy, I saw a mushroom in the school field! It was small and white...maybe it’s a button mushroom?”
He would describe them in detail; the shape of the cap, the color, even where it grew. And one day, with the brightest smile, he shared:

“Mommy, did you know some mushrooms can glow in the dark? They’re called bioluminescent mushrooms, and they grow in certain forests!”

That moment moved me. Not just because of the fact he remembered and understood something so fascinating, but because it showed how curiosity-driven learning can turn into real knowledge when it’s supported, gently guided, and celebrated.

As a biologist, I’ve always valued the pursuit of knowledge. But as a mother, I’ve learned that some of the most powerful learning happens when we follow a child’s lead, when we listen to their questions, and when we walk beside them on their journey of wonder.

This experience reminds me that science isn’t just something we teach...it’s something we live, explore, and grow into, together.