New Leaves

A conversation between a mother and a son

Son walks into the kitchen where the mother is.

“Hey Mom. What’s the plan for the Charlie Brown plant?” questions the son.

“Charlie Brown plant?” says the mother.

“Yeah. The one by the front window,” says the son.

The mother looks in the living room. The mother sees the plant by the front window.

“Why do you call that plant Charlie Brown?” questions the mother.

“Well, look at it. It barely has any leaves and looks like it’s not going to make it. It’s like the Christmas tree in Charlie Brown’s Christmas special,” says the son.

The mother looks at the son. The mother walks over to the plant.

“This is not a Charlie Brown plant. Looks can be deceiving. This plant is thriving. Let me tell you a few things, son. I had this plant at my last job. It was in the same location where it is in our house and was doing terribly. I had it on my desk in my office. Every day I would look at the plant and wonder why it wasn’t doing well. I tried everything I could think of to help the plant. When I decided to leave the job, I debated whether to compost the plant or bring it home with me. I brought it home,” says the mother.

“Oh,” says the son.

The mother looks at the plant.

“This plant is symbolic of something bigger. I brought this little plant home and placed it in the living room. I tended to it as I always had, but something changed. Slowly the plant began to improve. She seemed happier and started to sprout new leaves,” says the mom.

“She?” questions the son.

“Yes, she. I think indoor plants are female. Let’s move on. Very slowly the plant began to improve. I wondered why it was doing better, but then it dawned on me. The plant started to improve because it was in a better environment and with other plants that were also thriving. I’ve come to realize that people, animals, and even plants need the right environment to thrive. This plant is symbolic because when I was in my previous work environment, I wasn’t thriving, but now I am away from there and doing really well. It represents how important being in the right place is and how making a change can lead to greater health and happiness,” says the mother.

The mother smiles at the son.

“Um. Well, thanks for all the info, Mom. But really I just wanted to remind you that you may need to water the plant because it looks a little dry,” says the son.