Nucleus colony, or a nuc, is a starter beehive of which the nucleus is the queen. Approximating the size of a shoebox, the nuc holds sever- al pounds of bees that cling to one another around their food source and their queen. Considered the “heart of the hive,” the queen bee remains separated in the nuc for her own protection. The other bees in the hive must get acclimated to the queen before she is released. The queen remains confined, communicating with the other bees through a screen as they wait for their new hive. Being beekeepers for 11 years has taught my family to communicate differently just as the bees have. Our communication is quick and predictive, reading each other’s body language to rapidly determine what is needed while taking care of the bees. In our home, we communicate similarly, reading body language to determine whether or not it is good to make requests or approach them with a specific topic. My family has dedicated money, time, and land to our bees, and in return, they have shaped the way my family interacts with each other.