the spikes no longer hurt me

While watering the plants:

‘Mum, look how I can handle the thorns now, I don't hurt myself anymore. I mean, if I'm not careful, I can still hurt myself a little, but it's less... I know how to handle them now, I know how much they hurt... so I'm not caught by surprise and I can protect myself better and faster.

Look Mum!

Can you see it?’

He touches the leaves in various ways, lightly running his fingers over the fleshiest, thorn-free area, holding the leaf with his palm underneath and his fingers around the sharpest areas, pinching one of the spikes and then touching it directly with his index finger...

"See?

Because I know where the spikes are and how they work, I'm no longer afraid of pricking myself... and when I do prick myself, it only hurts a little. These aren't that sharp or thin either... it's easier.

But this cactus is more difficult [points to the smaller one]... this one is really difficult. I still haven't found a way to touch it without getting thorns in my fingers. I don't even know if it's possible... only with gloves... thick ones! And even then, you have to be careful.

With nettles it's different but similar... when we know, we can handle them better and it hurts less.

Knowing where the spines are and how they work is really important, isn't it, Mum?

‘Yes. It's really important!’ I replied.

‘And it's not just true for cactus and nettles,’ I thought.