The Worries Of A New Parent

See that? I did that. That’s right: the Toxic Houseife, Herself, actually managed to grow something.

Like any new parent, I am inordinately proud of my little babies, all approximately-fifty of them. OK, so my pride might be a little premature: after all, who knows if I’ll kill them before they’re full-grown. However, I’m still wandering around in a daze, amazed that these little babies came about – in large part – because of me.

Are you paying attention? I had to grow those from seeds. That’s right: the Toxic Housewife, Herself, built a shelf under her sunny bedroom window, mixed dirt and compost in a planter, provided pebbles for drainage, dug tiny trenches, and placed in miniscule white balls that magically transformed into greenery five days later. (Hear that? My babies are gifted! They grew that much in just five days!

(Even more-impressive is the fact that I remembered to water them for five days.)

Those littler suckers are still growing: look at them now, when they’re a week old:

I’ve got more pictures, but they’re in my wallet.

I’m supposed to plant them outside once they have a few "true" leaves. Which is what is currently freaking me out: how far along must a leaf get before it is “true”? I’m so proud of my little plants that already I think they’re all grown up and sprouting “true” leaves . . . but what do I know? I figure I ought to err on the side of caution and let them get older than one week before I expose them to the great outdoors . . . but is it possible to wait so long that the “true” leaves become “false”?

I forgot how stressful this new-parent stuff is.

Assuming I don’t kill them first, my little packet of seeds is supposed to grow up to become lettuce. If that happens – if we’re actually able to eat salads from the garden this year – it will be the first time that I – the Toxic Houseife, Herself – actually took care of a plant long-enough for it to become sustenance. (And not just a plant, but a plant that had to be started from a seed!)

Wow, I can finally see why this gardening thing is so fulfilling to people. It really is great to revel in the accomplishment of watching your babies grow.

Best yet: unlike other forms of parenting, you're actually encouraged to eat what you raised.