day 270: water levels
A few nights ago my husband was in the hot tub when he noticed the water was below the line on one side of the tub, and at the normal level on the other side. Upon further examination he discovered that the lower water was on the side farthest away from the huge cottonwood tree that canopies the cement pad the tub sits on. After 9 years the level is off?Today we were talking about it when his face lit up and he realized that every time he drains the tub (quarterly at least) he runs all of the water right onto the roots of the tree on the west side of the pad. He was causing his own problem by over-nourishing the tree that had big, fat healthy roots right under the cement pad the hot tub sat on.
All of this on the same day I sat on the porch of an older woman in my neighborhood for an hour, talking about being a parent to my adult children. Talking about nourishing. Talking about the motherly instinct to feed and clothe and nurture. How too much water poured right onto the roots could possibly mess with the cement and throw the level off in a hot tub.
Finding a way to pour it on, but not pour it on. Offering love and shelter and help until my sons' roots are firmly planted and ready to soak in their own sustenance. So I stand there with the watering can, and tip my arm when it seems right.
12 comments
i go through similar thoughts with my three adult children, karen...
Does that mean maybe you can over-nourish children as well? Just to make doubly sure they learn everything they need to?
I think there's a difference between nourishing and enabling. You nourish. You're a good mom.
So to nurture, one must nourish in the proper amounts, not drown. Interesting. I do love being a woman and having the natural instinct to nurture. We are sensitive to the needs of our children, and yet there does come a time, when we must let go a bit, as they move on. I will always be their mother though.
Oh Kazzy! This is so intriguing and it is the dance that I go through on a daily basis!
Once again, you have left me uplifted and inspired.
I love this. It is always such a struggle, because we can't see immediately the effects of our actions.
I love these gems of yours.
What a sweet analogy. I love it.
Such a hard balancing act, though I can only assume since none of my children are "there" yet.
ooooh, you re so wise.
A perfect analogy. One that will stick with this over-watering Mama. Thank you, friend.
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