Army Wife Stepmom

I’ve been in love with dusk for at least 15 years, since its magical pink glow lit up the Rocky Mountains in my college years.  It’s still my favorite time to go outside and water the garden.

We live on Post, and so our gardening space is sparse.  I do believe in blooming where you’re planted though, pun intended.  So, I bought seeds from the Exchange this spring, and now we have an assortment of veggies taking up residence in the soil around the house.  Watering has become more fun in the last week as beans and squash have been ready to pick and each day brings more tiny tomatoes to ripen and miniature cucumbers that resemble gherkins.

I hate to say it, but last night I had the realization that vegetables are more rewarding than children.  Less than two months ago, I put some seeds into the ground.  With minimal time commitment since then, I am already reaping benefits.

My efforts with my kids began six months ago, nearly three times longer than with my zucchini.  My time investment in them is infinitely more than with the vegetables.  But, dangit, wouldn’t you know it?  They’re still not ripe.

Parenthood is about tending and weeding and watering and pruning.  It’s about trying to make your soil hospitable to growth.  It’s about wishing and hoping.  Sometimes, it’s trusting nature and God to make up for your oversights.  I’m only six months into this whole institution, but the biggest challenge I’ve identified is being patient in the ripening process.

I need to do better at basking in that proverbial magical dusk pink glow and witness the growth.  Because, I still believe that these five kids are going to turn out to be the best veggies I’ve ever worked with.

Tomorrow’s post will feature pictures from our garden and vignettes of how the kids’ personalities line up with the veggies.  Join the conversation on Facebook by clicking the link to the right.