A few weeks ago, my 5-year-old and I took on a very serious DIY project: making shark teeth sifters. If you live in Florida, you know that hunting for shark teeth is basically a rite of passage. It’s like our version of panning for gold, except instead of striking it rich, you get tiny, fossilized triangles that make you feel like an archaeologist. And when the kids had a rare day off school, we made the most of it with a trip to the beach.
But first, the sifters! My son was all in on the project. He helped me measure the wire mesh and cut the pool noodles. We ended up making a few extra, and when I casually mentioned that we could sell them, his little capitalist brain kicked into high gear. “Wait. You mean I can make money?” I told him I’d split the earnings with him so he could start saving for some Lego sets he’s been obsessing over. He was excited. We actually just sold our first two!
We really needed a beach day, a break from the endless cycle of school drop-offs, church, and sports practices. It’s funny how when you live somewhere beautiful, you don’t always take the time to enjoy it. I could sit on the beach and do absolutely nothing for hours, but little kids? They need a mission. The shark tooth sifters gave them a purpose, turning what might have been a short-lived beach trip into a full-blown treasure hunt. Every time we found a tooth, it was a tiny thrill, proof that nature has all kinds of weird and wonderful surprises if you just slow down and pay attention.
Now we need to plan another treasure hunt before it gets too hot…
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