One of the best qualities that children possess is the art of amazement. Yes, I consider it an art. As adults we grow up and get used to things. The art is to take a second look at everyday situations, people, or places and really SEE them.
Kids have a fresh perspective about everything, and that includes everyday occurrences. I’ve found that this quality, paired with some insight from us (the parents), yields very beneficial results, especially now that Sascha is 2.
My heart can only warm to think how it will translate into his adulthood.
Seize the opportunity to plant positive seeds in your kid’s amazement-rich mind!
We live in Tulum, and lately we have had loads of a brown seaweed called Sargassum. Sascha doesn’t mind it, and he happily steps over it to get to the water. The Sargassum situation is very unstable as it sometimes gets swept away overnight by the tides, thus leaving an Instagram-ready scenario, while at other times, there are endless waves of it. There is no predicting when we will have a good Sargassum day or a bad one.
This seaweed bloom has happened due to the growing levels of nitrogen in the world. Too much nitrogen is being caused by everyone in the world, and our carbon footprint is reflected into the ocean in various ways. Even your regular non-biodegradable suntan lotion contributes.
As I said before, Sascha doesn’t mind Sargassum. But what if we take this opportunity to plant a seed in his mind?
We recently drove to Mahahual, 3 hours west of Tulum. Mahahual is a sleepy town that does not have the manpower to clear out the sargassum daily. Instead of just ignoring the Sargassum, we made it an adventure. The mission became helping our waiter clear the seaweed out (he would bring us a drink and then go shovel it, come back to check on us, and then go back again).
How is this planting a seed?
By harnessing the amazement my kid feels for the beach and the eagerness to feel helpful, Sascha will now understand that he can sometimes improve situations, thus making him feel autonomous while also cultivating the initiative of offering help.
We hope this particular positive seed sprouts in the form of developing the presence of mind and interest to learn more about Sargassum and our relationship and responsibility towards the rising nitrogen levels in the ocean.
Each positive seed you plant in your child’s mind is a tool you give the world for a better tomorrow.
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