Oliver and I planted sugar snap peas in our front landscaping (classy, I know) this spring. I figured he was old enough to learn about reaping and sowing and such.
As we planted the seeds I talked to him about why we thank God for our food at mealtimes (he had recently announced that he didn’t need to thank God for his food). We talked about God providing for us by sending the sunshine and the rain to make things grow and I was pretty sure he was grasping the general concept.
Then a week later I found him relieving himself on one of the bushes and joyfully exclaiming, “Make it grow and grow!”
Um, close.
So, today Oliver asked if we could pick some of the peas to see how they taste. We took a small colander out to the front of our house and I let him pluck seven pea pods.
We brought them inside, cleaned them off (who knows what other plants Oliver has been making “grow and grow”?), and got to work popping them open. We had a lovely time counting the peas in their shells, talking about which ones were Papa Peas and Mama Peas and Baby Peas. (There was even a Granddad Pea and a Groovy Pea) :)
I’d say the sugar snap peas were a success! We learned about how things grow, we counted, we talked about big and small, and we ate some deliciouslysweet peas!
Thank you, Lord, for your bountiful provisions!
>Gorgeous pictures. I'm craving peas now! And a timely reminder to work on this with my children. Thank you xxx
>very sweet! glad he choose the bushes and not the peas!
>the pictures are absolutely beautiful and I love how you taught him such an important lesson through them!
>This was a great post! Thank you so much for sharing!
>Great post. I have been wanting to work with my kids about things like that also. We planted flowers and hopefully next year will have a small garden.
>I planted 2 raised bed gardens this year and it is amazing how curious my son is about them. We talk about all of the plants and I let him "gelp" me in the garden. He did accidentally pull off a non yet ripened roma tomato yesterday, much to my dismay, but he is really loving the whole experience. Great way to teach life's lessons!
>How fun!
I wanted to plant a garden this summer but we just moved into this house in March and the yard was out of control! So I am still working on getting the yard under control. Maybe next year we can plant a garden.
>What a hilarious story.
I would love to have a garden and plant vegetable and flowers with Ella… maybe one day I will get so motivated :) We shall see!
>I could not help but burst into laughter at the "make it grow & grow" statement. That is just hilarious & precious all at once! What a special little boy he is! Your an amazing mom & your teaching me many things about parenthood I hope to one day use myself! I mean, vegetable gardens & God? A brilliant, yet simple lesson for a young mind to understand. Beautiful pics as always & wonderful words as well. Your a very talented woman!
>What a great idea!! I'll store that one away for when I have kiddos!
>Your snap peas look delicious! I'm afraid the tomato plants I planted this year have been severely neglected….as in, I completely forgot I had them and did not water them for about two weeks. oh well, there's always next year!
>totally off topic…but I remember you mentioning some kind of place mats you liked, with animals/letters on it…I am trying to find some cool placemats to keep my son occupied during meals!!