CJ and I are walking to the neighborhood coffee shop when out of the blue he says to me, “Mommy I cannot believe ALL THIS LITTER! How can people litter like this?” He shakes his head, horrified.
“I don’t know,” I say.
“Mommy!” CJ is deathly serious. He stops to face me and holds his hand out so that I have to stop too. “Mommy, listen.”
“OK, ok, WHAT?”
“Mommy, can I pick up the litter off our street? PLEEEEEEASE?”
Of course I have to say yes. And so, as promised, the very same afternoon I give CJ an old pair of gardening gloves and a garbage bag and set him loose on the neighborhood.
He shakes his head as he reaches into the gutter for a flattened beer can. ”I cannot BELIEVE people litter like this. It’s just terrible.”
While CJ is astounded by the lack of good citizenship on our street, my amazement centers more on the determination with which my boy has tackled this latest endeavor. He is vigilant, picking up EVERY LAST PIECE of garbage… even the smashed plastic baggy of dog poop with… well… poop seeping out the end. He will not stop until the entire street is clean. And then he wants to do the other side.
I’m scratching my head and trying to remain interested. I probably should be helping him but it was his idea and the thing about litter is it’s so dirty. I mean, seriously. Ew.
“Mommy!” CJ is holding up his left hand and waving excitedly with his right. “Mommy, look I even picked up DOG POOP!”
Sure enough, a stale turd dangles from my little boy’s eager grasp.
It takes all my efforts to hold back a scream. In a remarkably calm voice I encourage him to drop the turd. NOW.
An hour later the garbage bag is bulging and CJ is pleased. I’m pleased too… despite all the dog poop.
This moment, when I get a glimpse into the good side of CJ’s character, reassures me. Maybe I’m not doing such a bad job after all. Maybe he’ll turn out ok, in the end.
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xo Jen
September 3, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Oh what a great kid! Seriously.
September 3, 2009 at 10:59 pm
He sounds like such a great kid!
September 4, 2009 at 6:54 am
What an awesome kid you have there.
September 4, 2009 at 7:33 am
Good job CJ!
September 4, 2009 at 11:10 am
Great story! That’s amazing that he’s so into cleaning up his neighborhood. Most kids his age wouldn’t care, and would even contribute to the problem.
Good for you!
September 4, 2009 at 11:29 am
Very awesome kid, indeed! I think you’re doing a fabulous job! :)
September 4, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I just love this story to bits…gives me hope for the future and makes me smile. CJ is made of awesome.
September 5, 2009 at 5:55 am
Now my kids would have started throwing the dog poop at each other (or at least reasonably close to the other person to evoke a scream or two), just BECAUSE THEY CAN.
Good for your son. Yes, I think he’ll turn out OK.
September 5, 2009 at 8:56 am
I’d say you’ve got yourself a keeper. Well done, CJ!
September 5, 2009 at 11:25 am
I’d be very proud. he understands the meaning of community responsibility. What a great kid.
September 7, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I’m so glad I am not alone in raising a crazy tree hugger of a kiddo.
William used to use too much toilet paper. I got tired of pulling out the plunger (yuck). In an effort to explain it in terms he’d get, I told him how toilet paper is made from cut down trees and its important to not waste it by using more than you need, etc. Well, when he turned 4.5 he went through a forgetting to flush phase. Needless to say, I’d find a big turd in the tub w/ NO toilet paper in sight. I finally asked him why he wasn’t wiping and he said “but mom, I don’t want to have any trees cut down!”….this is when we started discussing moderation of environmental policies and balancing costs and benefits:-).
September 8, 2009 at 7:23 pm
My kids love to do this. We do it with the kids I look after at my daycare too. At least once a year for Earth Day, if not more. We take the stroller and use it to carry the bags. I never get over how much they love to pick up garbage. They fight over the grosest piece of wet dirty plastic like it was candy!! I mean – yuck! But they’re learning about being good citizens and neighbours and environmentalists, and that’s amazing.
September 9, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Of course you’re not doing a bad job.
Litter bugs me, too. He’s a trooper to go out and pick it all up.
September 10, 2009 at 10:00 am
Aw, he’s just the sweetest little boy ever!
September 13, 2009 at 9:39 am
Most kids have to be paid…or forced…to do what yours volunteered…wow.
September 13, 2009 at 10:09 pm
So I just have to say wow. Not just to your little boy, but to you. Because my 7yr son is also pretty conscientious about our Earth. He’s all about recycling and not littering. Me, not so much. I mean, I don’t litter but I don’t recycle either. The other day my son said, “Oh, Mommy. Someone littered. Can I pick it up?” My response? Umm…no that’s icky. Don’t touch things on the floor. Someone in a nice orange vest will get that, ok baby? And we went on our merry way. So kudos to you for letting his inner-global warrior go to battle.
September 17, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I just read this to my boys (5 & 8). We think you should notify Nickelodeon’s Big Green Help with your story.. Maybe they’ll publish it on their website (or maybe your son would even get into a commercial!). Or Disney I think has some program about keeping the earth clean/green..
WTG! To you both.
(ps I think I found your site from the internet radio site – I just joined. :) )
September 17, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Oh that is very gross!
But precious at the same time!
If your son is starting to be an activist – then GOOD FOR YOU!
You ARE a good mom!
That is awesome!
And CJ….
The world needs more kiddos like you. Be a good friend. Always tell the truth. And keep taking care of the earth! You have an AWESOME mommy!
September 18, 2009 at 5:57 am
THAT young man is going to be famous someday! And I’ll bet he votes in every election once he turns 18! Good for you CJ. Found you through a re-run of Mrs. G.’s.
September 24, 2009 at 11:15 am
Aww! Such a good citizen. See, if I was a neighbor in this area, I would have felt compelled to clean up as well.
Sweet, sweet CJ! Thanks for helping our environment. :)
October 17, 2009 at 12:41 am
Can C.J. come over to our yard? Lots of dog poop left by dog owners, who aren’t nearly as wise as your son.