As a parent I have a lot of "assumptions" - normally that leads to interesting experiences.
Example:
Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons (
wiki)has become sort of a "go to book" for 2 of our minions. They became excited when after fermenting various over ripe fruits/veggies and mixing with mud, there was a real "wild food" book available.
Reading about Candied Acorns, they began a hunt for the variety we have littering the deck and paths. They also heroically climbed the rope to get to the top of the slide and I pretended I did not notice them for hours leaning off the top of the slide (with it's 15' drop) to get the best acorns right off of the tree.
After my heart stopped pounding, I explained that the green acorns would not work for the process and they distributed their 10#s or so back "to the wild". A few days later I noticed the younger snuffing around like a little piglet gathering his treasures off of the ground. Lovingly he pocketed them (note to self : ensure pockets are cleared before washing) and dumped them into a 1 gallon bucket. He then carefully cleaned a 1/2 gallon container, dried it and put in his haul. Because I was in the middle of pears, I ensured him that later we would work on his project.
A week later while finishing teaching all of them how to patch the knees of their jeans, we noticed a movement on the table. Four pairs of eyes focused on the object : An Acorn. Out of the side of the little treasure emerged a pin sized white dot. We gazed as 2 little eyes developed, a remarkably pudgy body squeezed through, and then the entire critter. At 1/2" long it wasn't really threatening, until we all in concert turned our eyes to the 1/2 gallon glass jar.
Describing the seething mass of small white bodies that were a few inches deep on the bottom won't really explain the squishy shiver that traveled up and down my spine. However, the gatherer breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Thank goodness we were too busy to try them last week."
So - my assumptions were these:
1. Minions would know enough to pick-up ripe acorns vs green - Nope. I should have been clear in what they should look for.
2. Minions would know enough to examine for little borer holes as they gathered - Nope. Hadn't addressed that step either.
3. Kids are smarter and more observant (i.e. I was too busy to help) than we think.
I spent yesterday, with some intermittent help, picking up/sorting acorns. We will try the boiling, baking, candying project later this week.
Engaging them through assisting in projects has always been my goal, but deep down I am a little glad we were too busy (all protein issues aside).
mutti