No Toys for my Kids

My kid is six,

when she was a month old,

I bought a plush teddy bear

to give her company,

and a pair of rattles

for her tiny hands to grasp.

That was it,

no more toys from me.

Her father bought toys.

People gifted too,

but not from me.

Because I knew

the biggest toy store

is free, yes—nature.

I took her on walks every day,

offering plant parts:

an acorn, an aloe flower,

elm bark, a rosemary sprig,

feijoa fruit, a dandelion seedhead,

Sometimes, a pebble or fossil.

It was so effective,

as I ended up raising

a little naturalist,

who knows a lot about

flora, fauna, and biome.

So, no merchandise for my kids.

we have nature’s wonders

to marvel at.

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