The Clover of the field...or something like that

Clover is such a neat plant. Horses and rabbits find it a nifty treat. Even honey bees search it out. It has a lovely scent, is pretty to the eye, and adds vital nutrients (nitrogen) to the soil to help the grass around it grow and thrive. It used to be a common, and welcome, sight in lawns. I don't remember the exact time, but sometime during the 50s or 60s, researchers for weed-killers found a great recipe to kill weeds. The only problem was that it killed the beloved clover as well. At that point, marketing stepped in and told the nation that clover was now a weed, and something to get rid of. By and by, consumers became convinced of the idea, and now clover is decimated along with crab grass and the other pristine-lawn-haters.

Clover isn't much different than mothers/motherhood. Especially stay-at-home types (the ones with their roots in the soil). Moms spend every moment of every day feeding the rabbits and horses (children, family, and guests) , and offering nectar to the honeybees (babes). She gives vital nutrients to the soil and plants around her (through education, and unconditional/sacrificial love) to help her loved ones not only survive (for lawns survive without clover), but really thrive. All this in turn, helps her to really thrive.

At some point around the 60s or so, some marketing department decided root-in-the-ground (stay at home- sahm) motherhood was interfering with their agenda. Motherhood was turned into a lower-end career choice instead of the beautiful, fulfilling vocation and high ended goal that it is. People are shocked that sahm's have bachelor's degrees or higher, thinking the woman's degree is being wasted. Now sahm's are left as "lucky" to be able to stay home (they must be rich) or crazy.

Like I said, lawns don't have to have clover to survive, or even look great. But the alternative is purchased fertilizers for the grass after you've killed all the natural, roots-in-the-ground, fertilizers. This makes for a pristine lawn, but lots of extra work, without the added reward of a thriving lawn, that can do really well on it's own.

We recently moved to the country, where my own battle-of-the-weeds continues. My journey has taken me to actually seeking out the clover to help convert my clay soil, and work through the weeds via preventative measures and sound education.

May the clover in your life always be there, and may you endeavor to seek it out and give praise to this humble and miscategorized prize.