It's my park, keep it clean!

We woke up very early, as usual and after sending the older kids to school and cuddling for a while with baba, Yeprad, my 2-year-old and I went out for our regular walk down Baghramyan street towards our favorite park. After greeting every single dog, cat and bird, on our way and waving to the "babik" on his horse (Marshal Baghramyan) at the corner of Proshyan and mimicking the police car sound effect, we finally entered Lover’s Park. I was following my little guy quietly, enjoying the peaceful morning when we approached one of the benches. Suddenly, Yeprad got upset, changing the tone of his voice, pointing with his finger  to something on the floor and calling it: "amot, amot, badij!"(shame, shame on you, punish) - Finally I realized that he was pointing at chocolate wrapper on the floor near the bench and was angry at the people who might have thrown it on the ground, dirtying "his" park. We usually teach him not to throw waste on the floor and keep nature clean. His babysitter had also taught him the word "amot", unfortunately, so he uses it whenever something bothers him or make him angry:) 

So, with my camera at hand, I asked him what he was going to do? He continued his angry blabber and like an old little man complaining about life in general, he picked up the dirt to throw it in the garbage not far from the bench and continued his walk. He repeated the same actions while we approached another bench on our way to the play area, again picking up all that he found on his way, not belonging there and putting it in the garbage.

Children are born with a sense of wonder and care towards nature around them, we need to cultivate it, encourage it and gradually help them be ecologically aware and responsible. It is never too early for that process and sometimes we need to start with ourselves; by giving importance to these small but important spontaneous gestures that our children offer us every moment of the day.