I was going to write about what it’s like not being a Mother on Mother’s Day, but that sounded kind of like a bummer, and it is Friday and I wanted to write something positive. Now I am childless by choice, but for the last 14+ years I have been a dog or cat mom. This year is the first with no pets in the house in a LONG time. So with no human children and no pet children, to what could I be a mom. As I was doing some cleaning in the living room, I came upon this:
Then it hit me–I am a plant momma! I bought the seed kits on a whim from Target from the Dollar Spot. I can’t recall ever growing anything from seed, and I thought I would give it a try. In the picture you can see the basil and cilantro coming up, and I am waiting (not so patiently now) for the rosemary to arrive. That whim has given me great pride as I see the herbs coming to life from just wee little seeds.
Lately I find myself tending to my houseplants and outdoor plants often–picking the dead flowers off my pansies, repotting my bromeliad, separating my aloe vera, and I have even found myself talking to my plants. If this sounds weird, think about your pets or maybe even babies – we talk to them and they don’t say much back do they? But they are very much in tune with our voice, and respond to our words – why should plants be any different? They are beings comprised of energy just like you and me and our animal friends.
While I am somewhat surprised at the notion of being a plant momma, I really shouldn’t be. I have a bunch of houseplants. I have made a point of moving all my outdoor flowers so I can see them from the inside. I have been immersed for a few weeks in my Intuitive Plant Medicine class, shortly after taking an Herbal Medicine Making class. I have been drawn to spending more time at the local park, marveling at the wonders of flora and fauna. It seems Mother Nature has stepped in to help me be a mom.
How funny that this should happen now, the first year that I felt I was a mom to nothing. Or is it? Here I was feeling down about not being a mom, and the universe answered. It sent me out into the yard this morning to do some weeding and lay down more pine mulch, where I had the opportunity to interact with my plants and give them words of praise for looking so healthy and let them know that the weed preventer I was putting down would not harm them. The universe set me on the path, and it brought it to a beautiful head by presenting the little babies in the buckets. I am so grateful.
I hope you have a wonderful and happy Mother’s Day. I will be surrounded by all my “kids” who give me unending joy and who I love dearly. I will also call my mom to express my love for her and thank her for passing on her green thumb –from one mom to another.
Julie Seifert 