I try to teach Hazel everything I am doing so that she can gain confidence and understanding of our world (I also include Thatcher, but we are really focused on word approximations and walking at the moment and that seems enough for a 13 month old!). And as a big "can we save the planet in any way" kind of person - small actions can lead to big changes people!- I always talk about recycling and make our piles to take to the recycling center with Hazel. I let her help me sort and categorize our cardboard boxes and then show her how to break them down. WELL it was a lovely day outside and since Thatcher was sleeping I decided to do some of our box breakdown outside and let the doggies out to play while we did some chores and Ernie McDoodle took to our recycling lesson as if it was his PUPose in life to breakdown boxes...
Ernie!!! Ernie McDoodle! Come back here!
"Mommy he has our cereal!"
"Ernie!!! Ernie the box is empty!!!"
Noticing the box was in fact empty... Ernie ran back to see what else was in our pile
"Hey Hazel. What's in this box?"
Ernie, They are all empty.
We are preparing our recycling
"OH why didn't you say so???"
"Step aside tiny human..."
"I got this!"
"Actually, this is pretty big and I don't have thumbs sooo..."
"Mama I can help Ernie!"
"Teamwork makes the dream work Ernie"
(Side note: I taught Hazel that phrase on a whim and she now uses it for EVERY 'Helping Hands' moment and I LOVE IT!)
"Hmmm teamwork you say? OH Mavvvvveriiiiick"
And just like that, all our biggest boxes were broken down
And the belly laughs that left Hazel were the cherry and sprinkles on top of
A job well done!
Lulu for scale and performance comparison of starting box to finished 'unboxed'
Reduce, Reuse... and Ernie!
Always,
Amelia
