My son has enjoyed picking things up outside since the day he began to walk. He’d fill his arms full of sticks at the family cabin – clearing the grass of debris.
My son’s hands, pockets, and stroller cups would be full of pine cones, stones – anything he’d find in his path when we would take our walks. I had to stop him from picking up garbage on a daily basis, as you can imagine.
My son grew, and his awareness of litter and trash in the environment grew right along with him. I’d get questions like:
“Mom, why is there trash on the street?”
or
“Mom, why can’t people throw that away in a garbage can?”
Combining his love of picking things up with his concern for the environment was only natural. My son is 9-years old now, and he and his 7-year old sister have been celebrating Earth Day by picking up trash along our favorite walking road for four years now. Both of the kids have the day marked on their calendars. This year they had a count-down to Earth Day for two weeks before the day – you’d think it was Christmas.
This story isn’t about my children picking up trash on Earth Day, it’s about a lesson they learned this year – I wish you could have seen their faces.
Our family headed out on our yearly Earth Day walk at about 5pm. Both kids donned vinyl gloves and carried a tall kitchen garbage bag while my husband and I walked the dogs on their leashes.
A race ensued for the first 1/2 mile of our walk – a race to bag the garbage first. Throughout the walk, several people stopped to thank the kids for cleaning up the roadside. “You’re welcome!” my kids would respond. It wasn’t until we were almost back home that a woman and her husband caught up to us as the kids’ garbage bags were slowing them down by then.
The lady hurried over to the kids, walked alongside them and said “I just wanted to tell you both that what you are doing is so wonderful – it’s inspirational!”
“Thank you!” my son replied.
“Thanks!” my daughter chirped in.
A big smile spread across the ladies face as she said “Keep doing what you’re doing” and she hurried off to catch up with her husband.
Five minutes later, we saw the lady turn around to meet up with us again. “I just wanted to tell you that you both were so inspirational that I’ve decided to pick up trash on my way home.” she said as she stooped down to pick up a crushed cardboard box. “You’ve inspired me!” she said again.
My daughter looked up at me with her mouth open in awe, which quickly turned into a smile.
My son hobbled up to where I was walking with his extra-heavy, packed garbage bag and exclaimed “Mom, did you hear that? We inspired her to pick up garbage too!”
I smiled, and we all yelled out “Thank you for helping!”
The kind lady turned back, smiled, and waved with a garbage-filled hand.
For the last block-and-a-half of our walk my family discussed how an act of kindness can inspire others to pay-it-forward. My son quickly realized that more trash was picked up that day than he could have picked up himself because he and his sister had inspired someone else.
An important lesson was learned on Earth Day, a lesson that my kids will never forget thanks to the kind lady – an act of kindness can inspire others to pay-it-forward.
Have you been inspired by an act of kindness?
What do you do to make our world a more beautiful place?
I’d love to read all about it.
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Love what you’re doing here and the lessons you are teaching your children!
Thank you, Ritu! Earth Day was a great day in all aspects. We look forward to repeating it next year. 🙂
What a perfect post for Earth Day AND Pay it Forward day! The kids look so darn happy. My son also has a thing for picking up litter. He doesn’t have the ideological reason your kids do though. I think he sees it as an easy win for doing something good. But, hey, I’ll take it!
I love how you inspire your kids to follow their passions. The natural excitement and enthusiasm children have is infectious in the right hands. I can’t help but feel you and your husband are model parents in this regard. You follow their lead and let their lights shine.
I can’t say we’re model parents, as no one is perfect, but thank you so very much for your kind thoughts. I do have to say that life is very enjoyable when you can let your kids run free with their passions – enjoyment truly is, as you say, infectious.
I love that your son likes to pick up litter too. Hey, I say let them (or anyone, for that matter) go for it! Every little bit helps.
Thanks for your thoughts, Angela!
Great story and great pics of their proud, smiling faces! A happy Earth Day indeed!
Thanks so much, Rebecca! They were very happy at the end of their trek – we all were. An Earth Day to remember. 🙂
This is so awesome! I love how you’re teaching your kids to take care of the Earth! Kudos to you! 🙂
Thanks, Lisa! Earth Day was a great and memorable day – one we won’t soon forget. 🙂
Wow! A VERY special Earth Day!
It sure was! Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
Wow, you ve got wonderful kids, kids learn from examples especially so you must be wonderful parents^^. This makes the world beautiful indeed^^.
You are so very kind, Antsa – thank you! xx
you re welcome^^
I only picked up rubbish at school when I was once again caught talking during class. Or disrupting was more likely the truth!! Great lesson and one many more of us could learn from. One of my brothers collected stones in his back pocket 🙂
Ha! Well, at least you were making the world a more beautiful place. 🙂 Our whole family hunts for Lake Superior agates on a daily basis (as we live on a dirt road). Most of us have stones at some point or another.
I actually plan writing a post on rock hunting for the Lake Superior agate as people travel here to do just that.
Thanks so much for your comment, Suzanne!
I can only imagine the smile on God’s face! Thanks for caring for His world!
It’s our (their) pleasure! Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
Good for them!
I will never understand people that drop rubbish in nature, it is such a selfish and strange thing to do! We have started carrying a bag to pick up rubbish when we’re hiking, luckily there is not very much once you get further away from roads…
You have such smart, cute kids Erin! You must be so proud of them. <3
Your children also learned about “The Power of One”. Children learn by example and it would seem in this case, it was the adult learning by the example of a child, or two. One is never to young or to old to learn to respect the Earth. Kindness whether given or received is a gift beyond measure. “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” – Oscar Wilde. Your children’s actions clearly reflect the guidance of their parents. They are well on their way to becoming exactly the people this world needs most, now more than ever before. Thank-you!
I love that quote by Oscar Wilde, and you, Ellen, make my heart smile with your kind comments. Thank you!
Also, thank you for bringing up “The Power of One,” and you are absolutely correct. Another lesson that I can discuss with the kids. They have the capability within themselves to make things happen. Better yet, they can enjoy themselves while pursuing their goals.
Thanks again for reading, and for your thoughtful comment, Ellen!
The Power of One is beautifully illustrated in the story by Loren Eiseley, The Starfish Thrower (or The Starfish Story, as it’s more often called). I’ve loved this story and have repeated it to my children since my grown Son was a wee one. One last thought : “A single person can still,make a difference – and single, ordinary people are doing precisely that every single day.” – Chris Bohjalian. Thank-you!
Thank you for this, Ellen! I looked this book up, and it looks to be right up my alley. I’m going to check it out. And, thank you for that lovely quote – you inspire me. 🙂
I love this Erin and you are bringing up some wonderful children there! Just seeing your pics makes me smile, but to know that the kids were so happy to make a difference makes my heart sing! I have shared this on my regular feature Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! Claire x
Claire, you always put a smile on my face – thank you. And, thank you so very much for sharing this story. It was one of those moments I know I will never forget. Have a wonderful day! xx
I love this. So exciting for kids to realize they reached another person, especially when that other person is an adult!
I hadn’t thought of it in that way, but yes, I suppose it means an awful lot to inspire an adult. Thanks for your insight and kind comment, Jennifer. xx
Thanks for helping our plant earth 🌎 be a happier place to live 🌍 keep teaching more people will catch on and help out to 🌏great blog 🌝celeste
Thank you! Yes, we learned that very thing on our walk. I think that my kiddos teach me just as much as I teach them. 🙂
This is so lovely, such inspirational children. What a great idea earth day is!
We look forward to Earth Day every year – a fun reason to celebrate the great outdoors!
Really does sound like fun.
Gorgeous photos!
Thank you!