Baby step: explain yourself to a young'un

One of the really cool things about having kids is sometimes they are really interested in what you say, and more than anything, they're watching what you do. If you're like me, and you have kids who ask a lot of questions, I tend to go into "tour guide" mode -- explaining just about every blessed thing I do in anticipation of the millions of questions they will pepper me with. Kinda like a preschool teacher: "So first we rinse the milk jug because the good people who recycle the plastic need it to be clean. As far as the caps go, we can put those aside for the Master Recycler plastics roundup...."

The beauty of this is that they pay attention and parrot my actions and words with other kids, and will sometimes give me friendly reminders when I've forgotten my reuseable grocery bags, or didn't turn out the bathroom light, or left the water running just a hair too long while doing the dishes. I hear them do it with me, my husband, and my father. These little pups help us old dogs learn new tricks.

And then sometimes they come up with really cute things on their own, using the enviro-friendly lingo we banter about. Case in point, my 5-year-old came home from school the other day with a tissue and construction paper crown that she says makes her "Queen of Recycling." Words I never would have put into the same sentence when I was 5. And I am honored to wear that crown.