so simple

I am terrible at keeping plants alive. I have a tendency to underwater them and then over water them in my attempt to make up for the under watering. It's a vicious cycle and it doesn't help that they tend to look the same whether you over water or underwater; brown and droopy. So I've now started keeping a watering can filled with water on my front porch. That way, when I'm on my way out to the car, I can quickly throw some water onto my hanging plant and revive it if it's looking a tad droopy. It has worked pretty well except that I now have a container full of water on my front porch and containers filled with water draw little boys like bees to honey.
Jem seems to ignore it for the most part but Tru picks it up three times out of five and plays with it and dumps water on the porch while telling me that he wants to water plants. And I ask him not to touch it, get angry with him when he does, and use my "disappointed" voice when I ask him why he chose to disobey me. It's another vicious cycle.
Today, as we were heading out to the car, I spied the watering can out of the corner of my eye. Tru had, thankfully, already walked past it. I was about to water the plant myself when a thought occurred to me. Why not simply take the hanging plant down from the hook and allow Tru to water it for me? I called him back and asked him if he would help me water the plant. He ran back and gave it a small drink. I didn't have to tell him to stop or tell him to "put the watering can back now." He just watered the plant, said, "Mommy, I gave it a drink," put the can down and ran to the car.
It was such a simple thing and it brought happiness to my boy. And I feel like a dolt for not thinking of it sooner. Better late than never I guess.

photo by: Tim Stubbs  http://www.flickr.com/photos/timstubbs/2490426600/