It’s a Jungle In Here

Early one Saturday morning, my 11-year-old decided to take cuttings from all our houseplants, replant them in the biggest garden pots he could find, and fill his tiny shared bedroom with greenery. Spider plants, tradescantia and a couple of aloes, all mixed in together and soaked with water, standing on dinner-plates borrowed from the kitchen. His 9-year-old brother woke up later that morning, saw the transformation and thought he was still dreaming a happy dream.

When both your sons actually agree on something, you let it happen if you can. The boys watered their chosen treasures sporadically but generously, and their jungle grew, crowding windowsill and furniture until there was barely room to sleep there. Trailing stems and offshoots wandered around, getting accidentally pruned off when they crossed someone’s pillow or caught on someone’s clothing. 

A few months later I noticed that something had changed. My younger son had stopped coughing. That nasty little cough that used to persist for weeks following every bout of cold or flu… it was gone. 

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