Thursday, April 19, 2012

Enjoying the Moment

On a rainy day a few weeks ago, while the kids were happily set up with colouring books, scissors and glitter glue, I took out my potting soil, vermiculite and part of the makings of this year's vegetable garden, and set up on the dining room work table. I'd had these seeds germinating for going on 2 weeks, and I knew it was high time to get them settled into their own pots.


It didn't take too long for both kids to express interest in what I was doing, of course. I mean... there was Maman, playing with what looked like MUD on the dining room work table, on purpose! Before I knew it, I had 2 little helpers eager to get their hands dirty.

Maxime's interest is as long as any 4-year old's, which is to say not very (unless we're talking about playing Angry Birds of course), so it didn't take too long for him to return to his colouring at the other end of the table. But Émilie, well... she's my little scientist. She's the one who always wants to do "experiments". This whole "let's get started turning these seedlings into plants" thing was right up her alley.


At first, I was happy and proud of her interest. But I soon felt... annoyed. At her slowness. At her inefficiency. She was taking so LOOOOOOONG to get one stinking pot filled. She was making more of a mess than was strictly necessary. Even though she was being very careful, her unsure fingers were sometimes too much for the delicate seedlings. I found myself thinking "Oh, just let ME do it, it'll be easier!".

And then I realized that THAT, my friends, was a big-ass slice of Crazy Pie.

Honestly... who CARED if she was slow? What did it MATTER if she spilled a little dirt? Why did this task - the first in a process that takes months - need to be conducted so frickin' efficiently, anyway?

So I let go. And enjoyed the moment, thinking of the tomatoes, broccoli and cucumbers that I'll enjoy all the more because they've will have been nurtured from seedlings to fruit-bearing plants with my growing-up-way-too-fast daughter's hands.


Happy Knitting, Everyone.

6 comments:

kate-the-enabler said...

What a beautiful post. Good job embracing the moment, and Good Planting, Chez Dear Growing Team. :)

Maryse said...

I'm sure her skills are even better than mine! Reminds me that I have to do this this weekend too! I must say I'm being inspired by people like you!

Knit and Purl Mama said...

You're so good! I haven't even planted seeds yet, lost track of the weeks, and I think this year will have to be started plants type of year, for anything (not radish or peas that get sewed right in the ground) but anything that should have been started already. That's awesome you're on top of things. And yey for letting go and letting her do it! Slow & steady wins the race!

Dad said...

yesel ionadefecMommy took a "smart" pill that morning! I just love those two girls (and the little guy too, of course) .... seedlings of my own you might say ....

Vicki Knitorious said...

Perfect. Wishing you many more moments...

Sinéad said...

That's the kind of thing I normally notice when it's too late, after I've said "I'll do it". Fair play for realising sooner and enjoying the moment :)