I have been re-reading a book called Ecological Identity by Mitchell Thomashow. A quote that I read a few days ago that has been standing out in my mind is by Joseph Meeker from his book Minding the Earth. "It is too much to say that you are what you read in the morning, but it is a sure bet that you aren't what you don't. A morning that begins with numbers, words, or machines is likely to turn into a day filled with the same things. When a scanning of sky, trees, and birds begins the day, it could still turn out to be dominated by words and machines, but at least there would be a natural perspective to provide the larger context. A day that starts with a recognition of the living process can't be all that bad."

The way I try to greet the boys in the morning is to hold them and look out the window. We watch for the sun coming up and then the birds waking. We often see a lone gull catching sun on its wings or the crows leaving their night resting trees making the loud caw caw- which I sometimes think was my boys' first words.

A favorite activity of the boys is to look out the window and watch the cars pass by. Often the most cars pass by just as they are waking up in the morning or in the afternoon from nap, since that is when the nearby school starts and finishes. I long for the days when children actually walked to school and I love the idea of walking school buses more info and encouraging walkable communities. A great Seattle resource is at http://feetfirst.info/. In anycase, I can sometimes distract the boys from their car watching if they find a "natural mystery" on the window sill ( a pine cone, leaf, or toy filled with greens).

Will our boys have a ecological identity and a connection to nature due to their early experiences? Some theorists according to Thomashaw maintain that it is during middle childhood ages 9-12 when place making occurs and children expand their sense of self that the most memory making and natural world connection occurs. I wonder if what I do with my toddlers will prepare them to have a deeper experience in nature at those critical years. If only the enchantment can last.