Green day at school

Today was green day at school. All the kids had to wear a green top. There was a presentation by the WWF and the elementary kids will be having a recycled paper making session after school. I'm pretty impressed by the recycling efforts at her school. They have recycle bins everywhere. The kids don't really have an opportunity to not recycle actually. No regular bins. Only 'paper', 'plastic' and 'waste food' bins in groups of 3 wherever you go. Good idea really.

Anyhow, we've been home for a bit. I'm messing on the computer and she's reading something when all of a sudden, she comes up to me and says, 'Mummy, don't put your juice box in the bin. It has to be recycled. We have to look after the environment or the endangered rhinoceres (rhinoceri?) will have nothing to eat. There are only 60 left! Also, if we chop down trees to make paper, the squirrels will have no homes and no nuts. So recycle your paper ok? The lady was asking people to adopt rhinos in school today. Can we adopt one?' As I sit there a bit stunned by this deluge of information, my automatic reaction is, 'Sure. Let's adopt a rhino.' Then it occurs to me that kiddo might think we can bring the fellow home! So I cautiously say, 'You DO know that we can't bring it home right?' Kiddo, 'Of course mummy! They live in the national park and eat leaves and stuff. We just have to go there everyday to give it some love!' Riiiggghhhttt. 'Everyday?' I say, trying not to fall on the floor screaming with laughter. Bad for the child's self esteem, you know. 'Ye-ah' she says matter-of-factly, 'after school everyday, we'll just go to the park and play with it.'

Now, I have full respect for the WWF presenters having to deal with a bunch of yelling fidgety kids, but if I EVER see any of them I shall very strongly suggest that presentations to impressionable young kids include the statement, 'Adopting means your parents PAY for us to look after the animal. You may not visit, touch, or play with said animal.' Capisce??