my lil tree hugger

I have always taught my children to respect nature, that nature is as living as we are. We have lived in Colorado, where my daughter absorbed the beauty of her birthplace, and now in Tennessee, we live in a wooded area.

Our county has some beautiful trees, they line the roads, the yards. they are super tall and when they change colors in the fall it is truly a painting to see.

Recently our county has begun a road project. A huge project. They will be widening a road that badly needs it. I agree that this project needs to be done, as this road is the only access between my home and town. Its a royal pain.

We started seeing signs of this work, which was an enormous hole cut into a wooded area, which allowed us to see straight through to a road about 3 miles off. wow.
my daughter ,at the time expressed a bit of dismay about all the trees being cut down. I explained to her why it was being done. " But there are SO many trees gone mama!"

yes honey, it sure is a mess right now isn't it.

Yesterday we went to the store, and because we were meeting a friend there, had a short wait. Behind us we watched as a huge chipper pushed trees in one end and out the other end came wood dust. I was fascinated by this huge piece of machinery, much as my son would have been. My daughter was beside me, very quiet, watching as well.

After about two trees had gone through this machine, the huge pile of wood dust as high as the nearby houses, the breeze gently blowing the top across the road- I realize my daughter is quietly sobbing.

"honey whats wrong? why are you crying?"

"because they are killing all those beautiful trees mama! I liked it better with the trees! this is just UGLY!"

Well. she had a point. I, myself have noticed the big gaps, the huge hole, the lushness of these areas being shredded and thinned out.Yet, I also realize that this road project will be a great improvement when finished.(not to mention how much easier my own travels back and forth several times a day will be!)

Her reaction had me desperately searching for an answer to make her feel better.

I explained to her that more trees would grow along the new road, just like they had along the present road. Yes, it may take a while, but things here tend to grow quickly.

Still upset, her next comment reminded me they are studying plant life in her class.

"but mama! we need the trees to make AIR for US! if they cut down all these trees we'll have less AIR!!!"

um. uuuhh... um...

Yes hon, um.. the trees do make our air- but there are still alot of trees left, and more start growing every day! We've cut down trees in our own yard and you haven't been this upset.

"we never cut down so MANY"

oooh yea. another good point.

ok, I'll make you a deal hon, because I can see this is really upsetting you. this spring, when it warms up again, you and I will go to the nurseries and buy a few trees to plant in the yard.

this made her feel much better.

Of course though, I discovered my own 'cons' of the tree shredding, in the same hour.

As we left the store, an enormous, fresh, pine tree was being shoved into the giant tree shredder.
I watched in horror as the dust came out the other side, and gently blew across the road we were about to pass by on.
The horror was due to the fact I am allergic to pine. Even as I realized this was a pine tree, the smell hit me, and my eyes went puffy, my throat got itchy and decidedly smaller-

And my daughter , in the backseat, of course noticed.

"see mama, its bad. you can't breathe already."