The Practice of Blooming

I remember a tiny plaque my mom often kept promimently displayed in her kitchen. It said, "Bloom where you're planted." For a long time, I didn't really understand the meaning, and then one day I wised up to the command that accompanied the tiny flower on the plaque. It made sense to me; especially in light of the fact that our family moved more than any of us really wanted to. I'm sure my mother had to remind herself of the sentiment often. Find happiness here. Enjoy this moment.

Now that I'm the mom of my little family, I need this same reminder. I don't need it because of adjusting to the new towns, houses, and jobs that my parents did, but I feel the weight of the wisdom all the same. For me, parenting - as in life - can be a series of wishes and hopes. Although I guess there's nothing wrong with wishing and hoping, at some point I must look around and see all the blossoms in my life and in my situation.

Benjamin has truly filled my world with more color and fragrance than I thought was possible before I met him. My practice in parenting is to celebrate each day and try to see the grandness of the small moments we're sharing together. Instead of focusing on what he will do someday (poop in the potty) and what he once did back then (sleep in my arms), I must work to see the blooms of this season. Instead of day dreaming about over-sized bathtubs (who doesn't?) and expensive vacations (San Francisco would be nice), I must recognize the beauty of this place right here. Please understand, that seeing such things is a challenge for me, but I know that I am happiest and surely a better parent when I appreciate my family, our nest, and our world just as it appears today.

Benjamin exploring in the backyard last month