05/10/2026
The first year I grew a garden it was an absolute flop.
I was 12.
My youngest brother had just been born. I so excited. My dad always worked two jobs, my mom stayed home with us and was an incredible homemaker. But, with three busy kids and new baby she had a lot to juggle that summer. So I tried to find ways to lighten the load.
I declared I would grow the garden.
As with most things I do, I started out strong. I worked really hard, and stuck with it for the first few weeks. The rows were crooked, and while I had soaked up the knowledge of spending hours in the garden with my mom in years previous, it wasn’t as impressive as hers. Soon, the weeds weren’t as exciting as other summer activities and the fruit of my labor matched my energy.
Though I didn’t have much to show for it, look back on that time with profound fondness.
My mom was gracious in her patience with my lackluster skills.
But she also encouraged me to keep going…and growing.
And, I saw through new eyes all that she carried to keep our little family going in such successful and beautiful ways. She knew how to make the most of not very much, how to make hard work look easy, and simple things look stunning, and she loved us really well. That summer, maybe more than others until I had my own children, I realized what a massive undertaking that is. I gained new found appreciation for what being a mom is.
My mom still gardens with so much joy and goodness. I still learn from her and am inspired by the woman she is.
I was silently cursing our strawberry patch the other day. One of my kids started a few strawberries, just for fun, a few years ago. Now the patch has exploded, and we get tons of berries every year. It’s a wonderful thing, but it takes a ton of work. As I was thinking about this, I thought about the massive gift that Andy’s mom gave us for our wedding. She made strawberries and shortcake for our dessert out of the abundance of her own strawberry patch. I had no idea the time how much work it took for her to do that, but now I am so humbled by that sacrifice that she made for us.
It’s hard to explain what a good mother is. But when you experience it. You know.
I’m glad I know.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the women who love others well. It’s a sacred honor and the world is forever indebted to you.