stomp!

Yesterday night I found a cricket in our kitchen. I thought it would be a good opportunity to teach Miles about being kind to living things so I showed him the cricket and explained we'd take it outside and let it go. We put it under a cup, slide a piece of paper underneath, and carried it outside together. I put the cup down on the front porch and encouraged Miles to remove the cup and let the cricket go. He was more than happy to pick up the cup. He squatted down and watched the cricket for a few seconds. He then stood up and without hesitating stepped on the cricket. Then he squatted down to look at the now dead, squished cricket. What exactly got lost in translation? Obviously Miles and I had completely different ideas in mind. So much for a great teaching opportunity. Maybe we'll try that lesson again another time with a different kind of animal--one that's a lot harder to squish!