How My Wild Garden Taught Me to Thrive in Motherhood and ADHD

Embracing Chaos and Nature’s Lessons

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As I step out into the early morning sun, I hear the birds greeting the day. I can still smell the dew on the leaves from last night’s moisture. Summer makes everything so much more vivid. With my coffee in hand, I walk down the slight incline to my garden. Freshly tilled earth waits in one half of the garden, and recently sown seeds in the other. The wattle fence is beginning to take shape.

My backyard garden didn’t start as a perfectly planned project. Despite my best efforts, it took me a long time to accept that it wouldn’t be perfect. I spent years planning before I even started working with the soil. In a way, it reflects my life. Art imitates life and life imitates art, as the saying goes. My experiences as a mother and as a woman with ADHD have often left me feeling overwhelmed and stuck in overthinking.

I can’t help but admire the imperfectly beautiful mess I’ve made in my garden since I stopped overanalyzing and just doing.

The Challenge of Perfectionism

My husband often jokes that he’s going to “take out the soapbox” whenever we discuss dividing up our chores. He has a kind heart and is always willing to make things fair. However, we still struggle…