Happy Mother's Day!

Hope you are having an easy Sunday.

I'm the last person to give advice on gardening or parenting. But, hey, it's the day, so here goes. I've been out weeding under the watchful gaze of the Buddha rock. He sits in the garden and reminds me about patience. The weeds will always come back and the work I put in only lasts so long. Over time, planting perennials, though, the ugly corner under the trees is taking shape.

What does this have to do with parenting? A few thoughts that came to mind while in the garden. First, it takes constant work. It's a lot easier to keep the garden going if you pay attention to it. Pulling weeds before they take over, when they are just a small problem. Constant work.

I tend to only plant perennials. The first year, they did not look like much. But each year, they grow. I like planting the seeds that will grow for a long time and take on a life of their own.

Finally, the garden is a bit of chaos. Some ivy from under the fence, a present from the neighbor. No planning at all, just placing bulbs here and there where there's an open spot. It would be a master gardener's nightmare. But I like the wildness. I like to let the plants just go. A little wildness makes things stronger.

I'll never be one for bonsai. Keeping a tree tiny and bound is not my approach to gardening or parenting. The beauty of a grown tree, bent against the wind, roots deep, branches reaching for the sky. That's the way it should be.