Yeah, we're polluters (Week 33)

We've been reading and talking about the environment this week, as part of an overall discussion for April about the earth and sustainability. I've found that so much of what we do to lessen our footprint is 'normal' to the kids that they do not actually *see it* as a conscious choice that we make. It's just what is done. That we only buy toilet paper made from recycled paper, that we use cloth napkins and dish towels, not paper products. We recycle anything we can, from the foam trays for take-out sushi to the little foil wrappers from their granola bars. We ride our bikes as much as we can, and combine errands in the car to drive as little as possible. We eat local, organic chicken and use bulk beans that need hours to cook.

Then a windstorm blew out our power early in the week, and guess what? Every single thing in our house is electric, right down to our smoker wood pellet BBQ. Our wood stove is an insert so you cannot use it to cook on or boil water. The firewood we have is too big for our stove, so we had no heat either. How green are we?

We watched a video this week on pollution, everything from factory and car pollution to noise pollution. And we read story books about fossil fuels and how we are both polluting the earth at the same time as we rely on a fuel source and a lifestyle that is unsustainable.

Then we plugged in our BBQ. When you first use it, for the first cook out of the season, you load in fresh wood pellets. And when you turn it on, it creates a massive amount of smoke.



We found it hilarious as usual, until Hannah asked "So we're polluters right?". Ugh. Yes, we are. And it sucks.


There's no easy segway from that, but I'll try. On the one hand I want us to live the life we preach. I also do not want to bury our children in guilt for a problem *they* didn't cause in the first place. I'm not making excuses or trying to shirk responsibility, but I think the real responsibility is to us adults, to model a conscious lifestyle, not just preach to them and ignore the struggles they face. It's about balance. And speaking of balance (did you see that segway coming?) . . .



Who couldn't feel at peace with some Yin Yang cupcakes? Hannah's fab creation this week with Grandma.

Other things we've been up to? A bunch of park days this week. Check out Hannah's determination:



And Leif's save:




And Ivy has her own park scene;




In other news, Leif has begun guitar lessons. Perhaps seeing him strumming at home will inspire Kit to pick up his guitar or banjo and strum along with his boy.

And both kids are still enjoying their science classes at Swan Lake. This week it was extreme environments and who lives in them.


C