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Weeds and Blooms

The Similarities Between
Gardening and Parenting

By Amy Dingmann

"I have found you can listen to what people have to say and weigh it in your mind, but in the end you need to do what you think is best for your child," Johnson says. "And what's best for them may be much different than someone else. Don't worry about what you look like or what others think. In the end, none of that matters."

Gardening is a lot of hurry up and wait. There is a lot of preparation for a garden, and then you have to sit back patiently and let the magic happen.

It seems as though we're always waiting as parents. We wait to conceive and deliver, we wait for our children to roll over, sit up, talk, walk, go to school, get their license, come home from a date, graduate, move out, not to mention waiting in the doctor's office, sports practices, dance recitals – waiting is part of the parenting game.

"Parenting is an all-consuming job!" Wilhelm says. "When you finally resign yourself to that fact, you can make it fun."

When first time gardeners jump into their work, they are surprised by how much work is actually involved. Interestingly enough, it's the same realization many people come to after making the decision to have children. But with the hard work comes sweet rewards.

"No matter how tough the day has been, I always melt when I walk into their bedroom at night and hear that quiet breathing and watch them in their most innocent, precious state," Johnson says. "It reminds me why I do what I do."

Want to see more?

• Gardening for Beginners, Season by Season: Winter Planning
• Everything's in Bloom: Gardening During Pregnancy
• Get out in the Garden: Bring the Comfort of Home Outside
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!

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