There Once Was a Toddler Named Sandy

Matty's near two years old and I've battled him on brushing his teeth basically every night since he was born. He is a terrible eater - he prefers whole milk and any processed carbohydrate over veggies and whole grains. I introduce new foods  to pique his interest and slowly I see his eating habits improving, but we are far from there. Healthy eating habits or not, brushing is important.

This poem relates what I was thinking about one night when I was tired and wanted to skip brushing teeth. I conjured up this image in my head and decided to brush his teeth.

There Once Was a Toddler Named Sandy

by Becca Brown

There once was a toddler named Sandy

Who ate nothing ever but candy

Her teeth fell right out

Oh look, people Shout!

The toothless preschooler named Sandy

TIRED

Today we went to the Boston Book Festival! There we saw Matty's favorite author, Anna Dewdney, and enjoyed a guest appearance by Llama Llama himself!

Matty is completely exhausted and I am hoping that time will pass quickly as his bedtime nears.

I am growing as a poet and children's author; and as part of this process, I will be experimenting with various poem structures. Here's a cinquain poem that describes how Matty is right now.

TIRED

By Becca Brown

Toddler

Full day, Fun day

No nap it’s five PM

Biting, Screaming, Crying, Laughing

TIRED!

Matty and Mommy: Aquarium World

Matty, daddy, and I went to the New England Aquarium. The aquarium is right next to Long Wharf in Boston and a great place for toddlers! Besides all of the sea creatures that I mention in the poem below, Matty really loved to see his sneakers light up by hopping around in the dark atmosphere of the aquarium. Cute. Here's a link to a picture of Myrtle from my poem below, who lives at the New England Aquarium.

Matty and Mommy

Aquarium World

by Becca Brown

Aquarium

That’s a really big word

It’s a place where fish

They swim in a herd

It’s also a building

In the middle of the city

Where children like me

Can see life in the sea

I run inside

And trip with surprise

Mommy picks me up

Then I look high

There’s a world behind glass

I can see but can’t touch

I wish for no glass

I wish it so much

There’s a wide flat stingray

Shaped like a kite

With his stinger tail

He sure can fight

The eel is sleek

And slithers below

He scoots right by me

With a really bright glow

The hammerhead shark

Circles around so high

It would hurt, yes sir,

To be poked in that eye!

The balloonfish is cute

But don’t be a stranger

Three times he grows

When he is in danger

The moon jellies float

In a really big pack

Do you know, Mommy says,

That pack’s called a “smack”!

The big coral reef

Is home to so many

Shelter and food

On the reef is plenty

Matty, says mommy,

Do you see her so near?

It’s Myrtle green sea turtle

50 years she’s lived here

The tiniest penguin,

Little Blue is his name

He swims with his friends

And plays silly games

My tummy makes noises

I start to cry

That means I’m hungry

Aquarium bye bye.

Matty and Mommy: Fall Change

by Becca Brown

Fall is here, Matty

Mommy said

What is fall?

I scratch my head

Fall is a season

Three months of the year

After summer before winter

You know fall is here

For mommy and me

Fall means change

It’s different to summer

And that feels strange

In summer we swim

At Sandy Beach it’s hot

The beach is now closed

In the fall when it’s not

The sun shines bright

On warm summer days

I see the sun less

Fall sky is more gray

It’s dark in my room

Mommy says night night

Next to my bed

There’s a new nightlight

It’s cold outside

I wear a jacket

My pajamas have pants

My bed a thick blanket

My backyard is rainbow

Red, orange, yellow, and brown

Soon trees will be bare

Leaves fall to the ground

Fall is different to summer

That is true

But change is good

New things to do