It's Earth Day ! How Many Thneeds Do You Need?

Today, the day of the earth, Earth Day!

So how should we feel on this day? SaD at the state of the planet? Rain forests deforestated. Waters full of mucky muck. Or should we be happy and proud that we are maybe, just maybe improving? Maybe, just maybe, we are learning?

So on this Earthy Day today, I'm asking the question: How do we teach our children to honor and protect this planet. It's the only one we've got.

I've talked to Lila about the importance of recycling. About throwing trash in bins and not on the ground. Ask her what people who litter are called, she'll say "Lazy and irresponsible." We've taught her to say that. It's adorable; it really is, but I'm not entirely sure she knows what it means.

Ok, tongue in cheek aside, I read the Lorax. She loves the story, asks for it almost every night, and she truly understands, feels the pain of the loss of trees, fish, birds and barbaloots in their barbaloot suits.

Today, this very Earth day, you'll find a special limited edition online text of The Lorax full to bursting with ideas, thoughts and more for Earth Day.

Some other things to do:

• Collect Recyclables together and either reuse then in a project or take them to be recycled.
• Plant a garden. I turn to Gardening Advice on Twitter for tips.
• Check out the Children and Nature Network. Lots of great ideas for connecting our children to the environment.
• Read and subscribe to Cheap Like Me where you'll learn endless amounts about how to reuse, recycle and conserve, all written by a mom who knows.

Now I am no expert on this subject by any stretch, so I ask you to add your own ideas here as comments or e-mail me. I want to hear from you, because unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

So happy Earth Day to all. Today's the day, we're off to great places, we're off and away.