Square Foot Gardening: A Family Project--NOT

How can I get mad at Benjamin and Nathaniel for this?!

Connor is only lacking one requirement for his Family Life Merit Badge: He has to lead his family in an at-home project that will benefit his family. About two weeks before he began the Boy Scout Pow Wow for this merit badge and two others, I had finished reading Misty Meads' copy of the book, The Square Foot Garden, and had gone on "a Barnes & Nobel date" with Ken and skimmed through the newest revision of that book. I had even gone on a Home Depot shopping spree and bought all materials needed for raised garden beds. Connor did what every twelve-year-old scout-in-need-of-leading-a-project would do: He asked me if he could take over my in-process project and call it his for the time requirements. So at F. H. E. that week we made the announcement that we would be building "square foot" garden beds as a family and planting a variety of seed packets therein during the week of Spring Break (this coming week). I was encouraged at my family's enthusiasm for this family project that night. Little was I aware . . .

As an adult I veiw things differently than my children. No one may question this. I know that Monday through Friday of next week is Spring Break for our school district, and I knew that all four of my children were excited for Spring Break to come. Thus, I announced a free time for all yesterday once school was out and then went quietly about some unfinished Cub Scout business while I knew my boys were outside enjoying their freedom. I saw both Ben and Nathan come in for drinks or what have you smattered in dirt. This IS the norm here, afterall. I'd ask, "Having fun?" They would reply, "We're building something to surprise you, Mom, so don't come out yet 'til we're ready--k?" (Still, the common-goings-on for our family. All of our sons like playing hard, digging, and building forts out of the wood pile, etc. Most of the time they like to surprise me with the final project.) Ben and Nathan were cooperating as brothers and Connor and Jessica need not worry about their bedroom belongings because my boys were outside not in for all of yesterday. At dinnertime I went out to say that I'd have to see it in-process because it was time for them to come inside and eat.

I found them digging a square shaped trench next to the driveway beaming with pride. And then I saw all of the opened seed packets, small garden tools, and watering can next to Ken's truck wheels. I was to learn that they were more excited about our family's square foot garden than I thought. They announced that all of the seeds were planted and watered. They had chosen this spot because the sun was shining on it and "it has good dirt". They had even started building a stick fence to keep out the animals by pounding in a few pieces of fire wood, and wondered if I'd let them come back out after dinner chores because it wasn't a school night. Now this is a "Mother's Moment".

They pointed out the ONE center area of fresh dirt where they'd taken turns digging about a foot's depth and planted EACH AND EVERY seed from every opened packet. (We've planted gardens before but Ken and I always pointed to the 2-inches-or more-apart-places we wanted them to put a seed.) They just didn't have the room on the side of the driveway. Anyway, they figured that watering in one place would be a lot easier and could save time ... and water. I didn't feel a lecture about the cost of all of those seeds, etc. was appropriate. It made me smile. It made me laugh. And oddly, it made me proud that they showed the initiative.