A Low-Tech Toy for my Gadget Boy
My son Aaron surprised me when he said he wants to buy a fat cat like Garfield (which just lazes around) when he earns or adopt one from PAWS (which is definitely cheaper than buying) or wait for an excess kitten to be given away by a relative or friend. Was he struck by some back-to-nature advocacy? Or, has he started to mature (since he’ll soon be over college) and wanted to try being responsible for something? Or, does he want a “different” toy to play with this time to complement his tech toys? Whatever his reasons may be, I smiled to myself and got excited about the notion of seeing my son care for his own live pet: not the digital pet Tamagotchi of the mid-90s, not the virtual Neopets he played with online not the Pokemon die cast animals he avidly collected and definitely not the fantasy creatures of the card game Magic: The Gathering.
This evening, I got another surprise. As the Chinese began their Year of the Rat, my Aaron got his cat. My daughter Aleli (an ex supposed-to-be Vet) brought home a tiny two-week old white cat for her brother.
Aleli brought home a kitten!
As I saw the cute and cuddly kitten, I initially felt anxious. It came too soon. Where will it stay? Will my kids have the time and the patience to care for it, to feed it, to keep it safe? Won’t it cause us allergy attacks? Will it be an added work load for me? I had to quell my worries and think positively. Didn’t I even bought birds, hamsters, rats and fishes for Aaron and Aleli when they were in grade school? So, why these qualms about having a new pet, now that they’re older? Then, I remembered my mom always making sure that we had our own pets when we were young since she believed that our pets would serve as our shields against sickness and misfortunes and that they would also be our guinea pigs for early experiences in caring, being responsible, and being loyal to friends.
After a few moments, I found myself holding the kitten in my hand. I patted its fury body as if rubbing a magic lamp. I wished that Gyunyo (meaning “milk” in Japanese) becomes not just another novel toy for Aaron (and Aleli, too) but a white cherub who can teach them bits of lessons on life and love in a fun, experiential and authentic way, at their own time.
As for me, I’d look forward to a time when Gyunyo can help calm and relax my stressful days as trained therapy cats now do for the old, the sick and the lonely.
This is “Gyunyu”, at 2 months. Photo taken by my daughter, Aleli
(I was moderating my comments and because of my haste, I marked a comment from you as Spam. I am so sorry— I do not even though how to undo or how to find the comment again. Anyway, I managed to see the name of the blog so here I am.
Please stop by again.)
My 5yo Mary has been asking for a pet this past year and I think we would give in (finally) when she’s 6, we are going to get a cat. Hopefully, she would be responsible enough to take care of it, by then or it would be Mommy’s cat.
Very cute… you sound like a good mom. I am sure Aaron will come to love Gyunyo as you do.
I ove his 2 color eyes. he is soo cute.
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