Thursday, May 8, 2008

The keeper of the kingdom

TravelinOma wrote today about the green people in her life.

Let me take a moment and tell you about the little green person that is in mine (who probably would be much happier with more environmentally-conscious parents like these).
Chase has always been fascinated by animals. It began when he suddenly became obsessed over elephants at about age one. And when I say obsessed, please think of stalker-like, all-consuming-type behavior. To say that he loved elephants does his passion a great disservice.

Elephants somehow morphed into dinosaurs around age three.

There were not enough books in the library to satisfy his need for information. Big, thick books with words I had to learn to pronounce like Orinthomimus or Pachycephalasaurus (which I still know to this day). It agitated him to see cartoon-like T-Rex's with three claws on scrawny arms. Because, after all, T-Rex only had two claws. And any self-respecting paleontologist would know that.

Dinosaurs eventually morphed into reptiles--frogs and snakes, in particular. He can identify any snake or frog, in pretty much any part of the world. He can reiterate its life cycle, predators, food, and mating habits. He even once tried unsuccessfully to mate two plastic frogs in the middle of church.

He has always expressed extreme sorrow when reading about the rain forests being destroyed. His little heart nearly bursts when he talks about the importance of protecting the environment. It has in the past, and no doubt will in the future, bring him to tears. When his hero, Steve Irwin, died, we felt like we had lost a real friend.

Chase is just that kind of a guy.

Well, lately his passion has taken on a new voice.

The very loud voice of recycling and energy conservation.

He lectures me on a daily basis for not recycling my diet coke cans. He yells at his brother and sister when they leave the water on while they're brushing their teeth. He digs through the garbage when he gets home from school, and pulls out anything that can be recycled. Even if that thing has disgusting dried up food on it. He sees beautiful neighborhood fountains, and is disturbed by the wasteful use of resources.

And, with a passing comment made by Aunt Heidi in Utah, he is busily preparing a full-blown lecture series on the environment for his cousins when we visit this summer.

And yes, he's only eight years old.

So, thanks to Chase, we'll keep recycling around here, even if it's against our will and without our consent.

Al Gore would be so proud.

31 comments:

melissa ( : said...

Way to go, Chase! I wish we were more Green!

Tina said...

Wow! He sounds brilliant! Isn't it fun to have the kids tell us parents what to do and not to do?

melissa walker said...

Everyone has to have a passion! And when HE wins the nobel prize for saving the earth, we'll all say we knew him when...!

Annie said...

I love Chase. Someday we're going to say we knew him during his elephant phase. Look out world, Chase is coming to save you...

Annemarie said...

I am thoroughly impressed and a little sorry all at the same time. What a bright kid! But I know how my kids are when they are just semi-passionate about things...

♥Shally said...

Okay-- they do NOT have recycling services where I live.

I called. If we want to do it we have to drive our garbage ourselves for 45 min.

SO SAD.

Kim N said...

That is awesome...what a great kid! I am the only one that REALLY cares about recycling in our house and my 7 year old daughter is the only one that KIND OF cares. My husband cares about conserving energy, gas, and water, but only because of the cost.

Holly said...

Yeah, Al Gore better move on over, there's a new green man on the block. That's so great that he is aware and cares with a passion--especially since he's eight. It will definitely be interesting as he grows up! And very green.

Unknown said...

What a good kid! I could definitely take some lessons from him...

the wrath of khandrea said...

oh i see a bright future for this one. send him up to my neck of the woods. buncha whack job treehuggers and sweaterheads up here.

i recycle out of sheer conformity.

danandcindy said...

I celebrate earth day by turning all the lights on in the house, and idling my cars in the driveway.

Jake said...

Good thing he wasn't passionate about the environment before he was potty-trained. I think if he'd been in cloth diapers, I would not have had him over...

But now...bring on the cousin club lecture! He needs to convert his Uncle Brad!

Diane said...

He and Michael should meet! He's our Mr. Green! We're gonna thank them someday!

Michael said...

I wish he would come live in my apartment. I need some greener roommates. I tried switching all the light bulbs to CFLs for Earth Day, but after three trips to WalMart, I decided I would do the earth better to not drive my car back and forth to WalMart to save a few watts. Anyway, go Chase! Green is the new smog brown.

anna jo said...

stie, chase and I should coordinate our efforts for the campout. I'm going to do a fun little activity with everyone (mostly the kiddos, but I think everyone could benefit!), and he definitely needs to be my assistant! I think he'd like it. :)

crystal said...

Evidently, Chase likes to point out the Inconvenient Truth to you.

Kimberly said...

I totally can't relate. I almost feel embarrassed sometimes. All of my neighbors put out their blue recycle bins with boxes, cans, paper, etc. I use mine for extra nick nacks and sand toys in the backyard. I'm sure Chase would have a thing or two to teach us around here.

Christy said...

I have a ten year old for him to meet. Although this ten year old is still stuck in the animal love fest and hasn't jumped on the recycling bandwagon. He wants to be a marine paleontologist. He also wants you to know that frogs are amphibians, not reptiles. Well excuse me!

Kristy said...

I'm all for going green, except with the new light bulbs! Florescent light gives me headaches, they are hard to read by, & they drive me crazy with the delayed "light-up." My parents installed them in the extra bedrooms in their house...HATE them (the bulbs, not the parents!).

Anyway, I would trust Chase more than Al Bore, I mean Gore, any day!!!

LOVED the earlier frog post...hilarious!

Travelin'Oma said...

You will never have to worry about Chase. A person so confident in his own interests will bravely be true to himself while he changes the world.

Emily said...

An inspiration to us all is little Chase. To say we knew him when . . .

Bridget said...

This just totally seals the deal for Chase and Maren's eventual marriage. Maren LOVES animals. Do you remember the post where she mentioned that people in China who are caught killing a panda bear can be sentenced to death? She was elated because "better to have one less human than one less panda." If we weren't already forced into recycling by living in Oregon, I'm sure Maren would be pushing it on us too.

Love that Chase!

Nichole said...

how did we make it before our children were invented to take care of us and make us be good ;P

Rochelleht said...

Ouch. They have successfully brainwashed our children.

Can't you harness his obsessive compulsion into a mission to find alternative fuels?

Lauren in GA said...

You should let him watch, "An Inconvenient Truth" actually...you probably shouldn't...he might slip into a depression induced coma.



Such a good boy!! :)


I ADORED the frog story you linked.

Blazing Goddess said...

Hey, at least your kid is obsessed with socially conscious, possible career producing things. Mine is obsessed with meeting Yoda and Optimus Prime and producing Manga art. Of course, she's a genius at it, but the obsession aspect can wear a bit thin now and then.

Becky said...

Landon is water conscious,...and loves to recycle, ...but I am pretty sure he has picked up on that from me. It drives me crazy when people leave the water running and don't care about what they can do to help out. So, good job brilliant chase for caring!

Ashlee said...

As long as Al is proud...that's all that matters, right? :0)

Cecily R said...

We have a blue recycling trash can that I sometimes remember to use...I'm guessing Chase would tsk tsk me all the time.

But what a great kid you have!

2happy+2 said...

Sounds like my Mother in law. Monday through Wednesday I come home from work and find the recycling treasures in a bag hanging on the back kitchen door. Now I find myself recycling so she doesn't think less of me. The stuff we do to look good to our in laws. You know you want to look good to. Just admit it.

Shauna said...

We have a Chase too! Love that he is so green. Dont you love it when your kids push you to be better at things. My 7 year old MADE me stop smoking a few years ago. Best thing ever.