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The spring that my oldest daughter, Madison was 2 1/2 years old was undoubtedly the best one, or will ever be , in my entire life. It was the year Madi was FINALLY out of diapers, exactly one week later I found out that I was expecting my youngest daughter, Leighanna. It was also to be the very last spring that my ex-husband and I would spend together as a married couple.

It was the first year since having moved into our home that Madison and I were going to get outside and at long last plant our flowers, and, were going to attempt to plant a small garden in the back yard ; just below and to the right of the deck. To no one's surprise Madison was ecstatic ! She could barely contain her excitement. I on the other hand was more than a little nervous about planting anything in the ground and expecting it to actually thrive. For Heaven's sake I managed to kill a cactus several years earlier ! After that particular mishap, I've been a bit gun-shy about growing ANY kind of plant or vegetable.
However, looking into you daughter's sweet, angelic, PLEADING blue eyes tends to melt away any and all fear. For weeks before Madi and I actually, physically began our gardening, like clockwork, on a daily basis, Madi would ask me to teach her how to grow things outside. She would tell me stories about the fairies who lived in and protected gardens; mind you, she was not quite three at the time. She did and said anything, and everything, all so she and I would at long last go out ,and dig in the dirt ; together.
Yes, we went outside, each and every day, and got exceptionally filthy digging in the soil. I realize now, after all these years (she's seven and a half now), and as I've been sitting here writing this article, that although Madison and I both enjoyed planting our flowers; that it wasn't just about the planting of flowers it was WAY more than that. It was about the two of us digging in the earth, getting dirty together, spending time with one another, truly and completely bonding; getting to know each other.
After all, isn't that what life is genuinely about. Getting ABSOLUTELY down and dirty with our children; getting to know the person they are or are destined to become throughout their lives. As I've watched both of my daughters come into their own personalities, and find their independence ; definitely a lot sooner than I would've wanted ; yet , I'm sure I'm not the only mother to ever feel this way.
One day we're playing in the mud with our kids, and the next, they're all grown up. Having "budded" right in front of our eyes into healthy, strong, mature adults, and we stop to wonder where the time went; why didn't we go play in the sandbox (or splash in mud puddles) with our little ones while they WERE little ? I have unequivocally realized that this life is entirely too short to NOT join my girls in mud puddle splashing with complete reckless abandon.

Learn more about this author, Shawn Johnson.
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