I have been saying for quite some time that I wanted to be a plant mom and finally I did it! My reasons were simple there’s something calming about being a plant mom and before my 40th which is on May 10th that is what I was set out to do.
No Green Thumb
I have zero green thumbs. A lot of it has to do with not connecting as much to attempting to try. In my 20s I was too busy with being single and free. I had my first real child at the end of my 20s. My life has been consumed with raising real children. But now that I’m about to be 40 and definitely not interested in having more kids I’m ready to be a plant mom.
Research
I’m big on asking questions and doing the necessary work! I knew I needed a plant that didn’t require a lot of direct sunlight, easy to keep alive, and that wouldn’t require too much watering. There are several options for that very houseplant and I choose to go with a Spathiphyllum or peace lily plant. They are easy to take care of and maintain. I also wanted something that spoke to me. I’ve been telling my husband for weeks that when I see it I would know it.
Urban Jungle to the Rescue
As a back up I went into the Urban Jungle with the same ideologies as I had envisioned. A low maintenance plant that would catch my eye and I would know it was the one. I was on the phone with a family member for about an hour before I walked in. As I walked in, I looked around and took my time. I wasn’t in a hurry whatsoever. One of the staff members greeted me right away and as I began to share my desires, she excitedly knew what to do. She didn’t give me any sales pitches. She didn’t try to push me into one plant one way or the other, she just knew.
Amelika Storr
I’ve been in heavy therapy since the pandemic. My therapist said as I reached my 40s to do what makes me happy. Find joy in the simple things. Change my environment! All of those things are happening in the most excellent ways. I’ve made promises to myself that there’s no way I would walk this next journey in life not excited about the little things. As soon as I saw Amelika I knew she was the one.
Why Amelika?
Amelika is a peace lily to me it represents the peace I feel in my life right now. Also Amelika means Freedom. Peace and freedom are my two words for 2021. Pursuing peace within myself is important. Amelika Storr is my plant baby’s name. She represents the steps I am taking to keep the peace in my home and life. As she grows and is nurtured it will be symbolic to how I want to walk in this world.
Therapy and Plants
More and more people are getting plants or starting to garden more. It’s therapeutic. It’s about caring for something beyond yourself as well as beyond the stress and tension in this world. I always said that our home should be an oasis and that’s the way I want to keep it! Having that peace and freedom, Amelika is key. Have you considered getting a new plant? I also have been more adamant about keeping fresh bouquets of flowers in the house. So weekly I’ve been on this trek do so because self care is about feeding the soul.
Tiki and Amelika
There’s no secret that I have a cat. They are curious animals. The second Tiki saw Amelika he lunged at it. So it will be interesting to see how both can co-mingle! I’ve read and talked to other cat parents on how to get them from eating my plant. I’ll report back once I find one solution that works. In the mean time I plan to keep an eye out on Tiki until he gets used to Amelika’s presence!
In case you’re wondering the kids love Amelika. As soon as I came home they were like mom finally got her plant baby! One more thing to cross off my to do list.
Welcome to the Storr family, Amelika! Isn’t she beautiful? Thank you to the staff of Urban Jungle for your help! The Urban Jungle is located at 1526 E. Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia PA! Follow them on Instagram!
I should have gotten the picture of me having Amelika in the front seat with a full on seatbelt! It was hilarious but I wasn’t interested in her falling while I was driving. The 2 hour trip to get Amelika was worth the joy I feel right now!
