The Not Killing of Plants

I do not have a green thumb. I think I am far too ADD for that. I don't actively kill plants; I just neglect to care for them. I have never had to repot a plant in my life. None of my attempts at indoor greenery have lasted long enough to outgrow their surroundings. So, the fact that my children give me plants poses a pesky dilemma: they expect these gifts to live. Thankfully, their attention spans are about as lengthy as mine, so eventually they forget about the plant and I am able to discreetly dispose of the pot which, by the time we've all forgotten about it, holds only a sad browned remnant of what was once a green and thriving baby plant. But, they keep giving me plants, largely because their teachers tell them to do so. Meet the most recent offering:



At this point, I should probably name it. But I haven't and CW didn't tell me its name when he presented it to me. He brought it home from Flower Day at preschool some time this summer and I haven't killed it yet. (There were no preschool sessions during the month of August, so this thing has lasted at least one month!) I was thinking, as I watered it yesterday that this plant is like me. My emotional/spiritual wellbeing will hold on through a fair bit of abuse and neglect. But at some point, attention must be paid. I have learned that I do best with some alone time, some exercise time, some scripture time and some time to write in my journal.

Lately I have taken great counsel from the blog of a sister's friend. In particular, this post where she talks about the New Testament recipe for growth and extraction from difficult places: do something physical (exercise), mental, spiritual and social every day. I know this is sage advice. I know that I feel best when I balance my efforts in self care in this way (I feel pretty okay if I can manage any regular attempt at self care), but I don't seem to be able to manage the regular application of the advice so well lately, what with the familial demands of this new bishopness and five children looking to me all the time for all their needs (and it's track break, so once again, it's all mommy all the time), I'm beginning to feel like the plant looks right before I remember to water it (pretty droopy and about to give up).

I was doing so well at the morning person quest, but when DH doesn't get home until after 10pm, I find myself waiting up to talk with him and then being too tired to get up so early again and again and without the getting up early, I feel ambushed and unready to start the day in a meaningful way with any attempts at self care and the drooping begins. So, I suppose my quest these days is to not kill my plant, so to speak. To keep my efforts at watering and caring regular enough that I don't die outright but to be patient enough with the scheduling glitches and other demands that I don't berate my failings too much, thereby causing droopiness of another sort. I'm thinking that I wish there were a gardening class for this sort of thing I could take, that would stick with me. Any ideas?