As My Kids Are Budding Naturalists

My kids are nature-smart

because I put effort into it.

I teach them mindfulness.

I talk about nature topics

all day, every day.

"See, the sun is about to set — admire the amber glow."

"The orange clouds look like shapes — can we do some pareidolia?"

"See the crows returning home to their nests."

"Marine fog is rolling gently. It's surreal vista."

"Look at the full moon rising — it’s the pink moon."

"The swallow birds are migratory — they’ve come all the way from South America."

"See the shamrock — the emblem of Ireland."

"Smell the acacia — that’s aromatherapy."

"The Chinese rain trees have tender leaves — it's primavera season, after all."

"See how the tight swallowtail caterpillars have the devoured the elm tree leaves. Some of them are ready for chrysalis stage."

"See, how the colony of ants, is climbing the sycamore trunk."

"Pick some gardenia — its the room refresher that the human body approves of."

"Everything is turning to silhouettes."

"In the thick fog, the trees look like apparitions."

"Look — there's a halo around the moon."

Tell me how these kids

won’t grow up talking about nature

wanting to be its caretakers.

I am proud of my parenting style.

for it’s not earth-hostile.