Lotus Rising Healing & Wellness
  • Programs Offered
    • Psychotherapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Private Coaching
  • Book an Appointment
  • About Me
  • Contact

Teach Your Kids to WANT to Recycle!

8/16/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture












The other day I was doing the dishes and took the trash can out from under the sink and found that my kids had thrown away a yogurt container and two plastic cups. This was frustrating for me mostly because of the shame I was feeling that I hadn't instilled in my kids the awareness that would cause them to care about recycling. When your whole life is centered around health and mindfulness, it's so hard to see the lack of it in your own kids! I catch myself being lazy about this sometimes too, so I had to face that as well, no fun!

I paused for a moment, considering the ways I could teach them this lesson in a way that they'd WANT to recycle next time. I pondered taking my anger (shame) and projecting it on them, blaming them for lacking awareness about the effects of trash on the environment (while silently realizing that it was my own shame and not their lack, that was bothering me.) But, I knew if I did that, I'd have to live with myself afterwards, so there went that idea. So, I went with the option of taking this as an opportunity to teach them what is important to me and then allowing them to make a choice as to whether it suits them or not.

I called them all into the kitchen and asked them if they enjoy God's creation. I asked them what they like about nature and the outdoors. Then I asked if they know where all the trash goes when we throw it away and introduced the landfill concept, (ie... we throw away our trash and it fills up nature with trash so we have less nature to enjoy.) It not only gives us less nature to enjoy but it gives everyone else less nature to enjoy.

I had them imagine what it would be like to go on a hike through stinky, slimy trash. Then I said, the less trash we create, the more nature we have to enjoy and when we recycle, our trash gets made into something useful instead of being thrown away and taking away outdoor space.

Next I simply presented them with the opportunity to consider whether they might like to help contribute to keeping Creation beautiful by simply washing plastic and glass containers and putting them in the trash container with the blue lid. I have not seen anymore recyclables in the trash!

Now, I fully realize that there is much more to this story than the kids and their enjoyment, but these are kids and I wanted to make it matter to them. I have learned that if I give a long dissertation backed up with factual evidence, they stare at me blindly and ask if they can have a popsicle.

I'd love to hear your ideas on teaching awareness to your kids!








0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Beverages
    Breakfast
    Conscious Kids
    Dinner
    Dinner
    Dressings
    Eft
    Emotional Eating
    Entrees
    Essential Oils
    Gluten Free
    Green Smoothie Challenge Recipes
    Healing Recipes
    Healing Recipes
    Health Articles
    Healthy 4th Of July Recipes
    Healthy Snacks
    Healthy Treats
    Holiday Recipes
    Mindfulness
    On Being Human
    Phase 1 Fungus Link
    Relaxation And Stress Reduction
    Side Dishes
    Smoothie/juice Recipes
    Snack Recipes
    Soup
    Weight Loss

    Picture
    Chichen Itza, Mexico 2015


    Author

    Hi, I'm Maria. I practice hypnotherapy and holistic coaching specializing in emotional eating, addictions, depression, anxiety and PTSD. I LOVE what I do! One of my goals is to be in the Guinness Book of World Records for doing headstands in the most places around the globe! I have a love affair with butter and red wine and all REAL food Mother Earth lovingly provides her inhabitants. I collect recipes, hoard books, scavenge for heart rocks and go totally crazy when my 4 kids try to talk to me all at once. My favorite pastime is witnessing people realize the miracles in every moment and reminding myself to do the same. I love silence. I am a lover, a mystic, seeker of the Divine, a Warrior of Light, Alchemist. Welcome!

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2017
    March 2017
    October 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013