Decontruct serialized data array from wp_options

Question

I'm trying to decontruct (and recreate) a serialized option value in wp_options called 'my_options'

How would I build the array to recreate this option_value that currently exists for 'my_options'?

update_option('my_options', ?)

After the update, the wp-options table would hold this value for 'my_options':

a:3:{s:12:"my_widget-1";a:2:{ etc...