Push th' Little Daisies!

Hi you Beautiful BEGONIAS!

Seeing that this country's economy looks like a rolling grocery cart in an empty parking lot without anyone pushing it, engulfed in flames, our family is having to make some hard adulting choices lately. The usual spring or summer break planning, where we sit on the couch after Noemie is in bed, laptops open comparing flight prices and plotting the next family adventure, is no longer a question of "WHERE" or "WHEN" to go. It's now "IF" we can go. After comparing notes with other families, we're definitely not alone. Initially, it feels like a big bummer. It's never just about getting out of town and going somewhere cool; it's getting face time with our favorite people who live far away. So it's just unfortunate to know this year there will be fewer of those visits that usually refuel my heart and our daughter's childhood memories.

However, I'm trying to change my perspective on it. Not dwelling on where and who we won't be able to go see, but focusing on what we CAN do because we get more time in one place. How deepening our time in our own environment can give us stronger roots and help us grow existing relationships within our own ecosystem. Even though I'm using gardening terminology metaphorically, it's also a literal motivation. One of my first thoughts as we looked at our bank accounts and flight prices was, "Well, at least my garden will get a lot of attention." If I can't go anywhere, then my "here" is going to be amazing.

It reminded me of a blog I wrote 2 years ago, where I was in real distress about the seedlings I was raising in my house. I was preparing to transfer them from their indoor cozy setting, their routines, their reliable light source, into the outdoor beds. I was such a stress case heading into this process. I was sure it was going to result in involuntary plant-slaughter. At the same time, my then 5-year-old was in her last months of her cozy routine in daycare. I realized I was projecting all my fears about my daughter heading into Kindergarten onto these young plants.

There was a process that needed to happen before the outdoor transfer, called hardening. Hardening is so important to help train a young plant for the big transfer. I had to put the tray of baby plants outside on our deck in small increments to get them used to wind and unpredictable weather. Little doses of growing pains and uncomfortable conditions. At the time, it helped me wrap my head around my little one growing into a big school. Right now, it's helping me wrap my head around this financially strained time. We need to step back and experience "hardening" as a family right now. We can still take short day trips to beautiful local hikes and swimming holes, kind of like a young plant going on a short trip to a nearby deck. I think it's important to feel that mix of excitement and wanting something more, along with the hardship of not being there yet. Even though it's uncomfortable, this time to save money and feel more solid will make it so our roots are really strong when we take those bigger trips.

Here's what I wrote about that experience.

Written 4.24.23

"After 6 weeks of incubating, raising, coddling, stressing, researching, disciplining, losing sleep...my babies are finally leaving the nest. That's right, today's the day my seedlings, now fully sprouted sassy 18-year-olds (6 weeks in plant years), are leaving their warm, cozy indoor plant containers and going out into the wild. I've been having to wear both hats of stern, loving parent and personal trainer. Providing a nurturing atmosphere but with progressive strengthening sessions. The botanical term for this is "hardening." Which is when you slowly reduce the perfectly controlled temperature of a warm lamp for the real thing in the sky. Increase the increments of draft around them so that the stalks can strengthen and be able to handle the full flux of unpredictable outdoor climates. Then eventually getting them really buffed up, fully clothed, and coated with fertilizer. Basically taking off the glasshouse training wheels.

The symbolism between raising these seeds and raising a very strong-willed child is not lost on me.  A huge take away between both is yes there is the obvious checklist of raising something from scratch to help them survive (proper nutrition, structure, safety, shelter, life lessons along the way) but also SPACE. That it's not just something recommended but actually required for them to fully grow to their potential.  

At the same time I'm measuring and spacing out plots in our outdoor soil, we're also preparing a 4-year-old for Kindergarten. Hardening her routine by getting her up earlier, strengthening her stalks by getting her used to carrying her own things, then getting her buffed up, coated with her all-new, larger, more durable outfits she can grow into. However, the idea of providing space is way trickier and literally deeper than that. Because I'm not only needing to provide horizontal space between me and my sweet pea, but also depth.  Making room for the roots, the growth you don't see on the surface. Which means there will also be internal hardening to keep these roots resilient and strong. The moments when she's real quiet on the ride home from daycare and acts out later, only to find out there's been confusing social interactions and name-calling with her friends at school. Where she has to navigate new feelings of embarrassment, sadness, and hurt ... maybe even anger. Boy, is it confusing when these are all mashed up together!  All we can do is hear her out and coach her through these new feelings, but almost every parent knows the feeling of wanting to march down there and handle it for them. These are the hard crucial moments where it's so necessary to provide the SPACE.  The space for her to experience it and sort through it on her own. Just like part of the hardening process of increasing increments of drafts for baby plants so they can get used to stronger winds.  Getting not just the surface, but the roots prepared for the inevitable adversity out in the wild. Those unpredictable social climates. 

This week, as a stern, loving parent/instructor/amateur horticulturist, I will help us all "harden." Provide a nurturing atmosphere but with progressive strengthening. We will focus on giving ourselves lots of space. Our movements will be bigger, reaching longer through our horizons. Lean opposing muscle work stemming from our core out to our stalks. At the same time, strengthening depth. The not-so-visible growth and maturing that happens underneath the dirt. Yes, this is the hard part, and yes, I might be the only gardener that tears up digging holes in the backyard because I directly relate it to my little girl going to kindergarten. Knowing she's going outside her daycare container box where she feels warm and safe, knows everyone's name, and knows where the bathroom is. Worried about her feeling loved in a huge new building with all new faces...in the wild. But I have to keep digging and keep giving her SPACE to grow."

Right now, we are like plants experiencing a different force of wind and harsh environmental conditions affecting our routines, stability, stalks, and roots. Very similar to a baby plant adjusting to a new environment or a 5-year-old going through growing pains and a change in routine. We have to show the same patience and make space for these changes. See it as a good opportunity to get in really good shape. Condition ourselves and "harden." So if you happen to be in the same pot as our family, sticking around for spring break or other holiday breaks, I'll be there for you in the studio. We'll train together like young plants hardening. We'll get stronger in a different setting, in a different but beautiful light source pouring into the studio, with unpredictable elements that force our muscles to practice responding. Strength conditioning in small doses so you're ready for the bigger, harder movements outside the studio. We will be better prepared when we reach those big goals, huge endeavors, and more expensive trips.

So amidst our country's hot mess of increased tariffs and inflated prices, let's grab the flaming abandoned shopping cart by its piping hot handles and make the best of it.

Excited to make your bodies sweat, smile, and "harden." 

XO!

Celeste