Train wrecks and other disasters

Becoming responsible adults is no longer a matter of whether children hang up there (sic) pajamas or put dirty towels in the hamper, but whether they care about themselves and others -- and whether they see everyday chores as related to how we treat this planet. - Eda Leshan

So, for the fourth time in about as many months, I am bundling up some precious possession of my son's and sending it back from whence it came. For a four-year-old, he seems to be handling this bizarre ritual rather well. His patience on getting replacement items, however, is beginning to wear a little thin. Can't really blame him, as his toy collection seems to be shrinking by the minute. His acceptance of the situation is rather remarkable, though. It is as if, on some deep primordial level, he understands that people screw things up due to a lack of forethought, attention and caring, and that as a population, we accept this and do the best we can to work around it.

I am finding it increasingly difficult to understand who, in their right bloody mind, wouldn't stop to think about the materials they are putting into products, especially those used by our most precious resource. How difficult can it be to NOT put lead paint into toys? I read today that China is finally saying that they will stop putting lead paint into toy exports. This begs the obvious question, what about toys made in China that stay in China? Do they not care about their own population? Why, in this day and age, where as a species we have the knowledge and the expertise to avoid doing stupid things like this, we continue to do so?

The same can be said for the apparent environmental disaster we are inflicting on the planet. If things don't change soon, my great-grandchildren will live out their lives on a planet that will be roasted, polluted and wildly unpredictable. Again, as a species, we know what we have to do and we possess many of the technologies right now. But we're stupid. We argue, bicker, point fingers, and continue to do things that we know are harmful.

As parents, we have a responsibility to raise children that are not only polite, giving and productive members of society, but that have a fundamental understanding and appreciation of how they as individuals impact the world around them through their actions and decisions. The choices they make may be seemingly small, but added up over a lifetime, can have a huge impact. As a society, we need to teach our children how to avoid the train wrecks, whether they are as small as Thomas the Tank Engine, or as large as our blue planet.