Growing Grass as a Center Piece

My Salt Lake friends will remember, with fondness, my love for growing grass. There was a time when I always had a grass center piece on my coffee table, especially in late winter. Just about this time of year, when I was more than ready for spring to come...but it just wasn't quite time. A little bright green grass, does wonders for the spirit.

It's been a few years since I brought out the grass seed, but I thought it might be a fun project and little biology lesson for Reese. There as so many things one can learn from planting a few seeds. Besides, I really do love me some pretty green grass.

This is especially fun for Easter. You can grow grass in just about any container. Then you can hide fun eggs, candy, flowers etc... in the grass. Super cute for a Spring center piece.

Here's what you need...

Container - I choose a glass bowl because I wanted Reese to be able to watch the roots grow. This particular project was meant to be educational as well as fun. (Yes that's a trifle bowl. Don't worry, this isn't the one I make dessert in. I have three.) You can use just about any container. I used to have a long wooden box that was rustic and very cool. I don't know what happened to it.

Potting Soil - any brand will do.

Grass Seed - again, any kind will work. Just buy something cheap. This large bag I got at Home Depot for $5. It will last forever.

Rocks - these are optional. I used them because I thought they'd look prettier with the glass container. If you can't see through your container, don't bother with the rocks.

Squirt Bottle - this is a must for the daily watering process.

Cute three year old helper - optional...but definitely a plus!

If you're using a glass container, fill it about half way with rocks.

Then add the dirt...

Now fill with as much water as possible. Make sure your dirt is nice and soaking wet.

 

Next sprinkle the grass seed on top of your soil. Use a lot. You really can't use too much. Get a nice thick layer of seed.

Using your squirt bottle, on the mist setting, get the seeds nice and soaking wet.

Then place your planted seeds in a nice sunny place. If your house is really cold, you may want to tent your planted seeds with some plastic wrap...like a little green house. Just to keep those seeds nice and warm. You want to squirt the seeds with water as much as possible. This was a fun job for Reese. Squirt them down at least twice a day, if not three.

It's going to take about 3-5 days, depending on how much sun and water they get, for your seeds to sprout. But once they do, they shoot up pretty fast. This is what our planter looked like on day 7.

Now doesn't that pretty green grass make you smile?

As your grass grows you can let it get long and wild, or you can trim it with some sizzors and it will just keep growing. After several weeks your soil will probably become root bound and the grass will start to die, but that's the best part...you can just grow some more!

You may be hurting your child and not even know it.

At one point in my life I dreamed of being a child psychologist. That is why I spent many wasted valuable semesters in college taking psychology courses. I also dreamed of being a chef and took a lot of those classes too. How I ended up in Marketing/Public Relations is beyond me.

Dreams aside, I'm still very interested in the topic of psychology, therapy, child development etc... If you know me well, you've probably heard me state on more than one occasion my belief that anyone and everyone could benefit from professional therapy. It's a very true statement.

So, when I happen to see this little segment on Studio 5 the other day, I knew I had to share it. I found it very interesting, educational and enlightening. It was actually a subject I had been thinking about recently. As a young mom, I believe my most important job is to prepare my children spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally for "the world". It's funny to think that what we really do as moms, is spend everyday preparing our children to grow up and leave us...to lead a healthy happy life as an adult. That being said, I'm conscious every day of the things I'm doing or not doing that could have a lasting effect on their overall well being.

I would love for everyone to watch the video and let me know your thoughts! The video give much more detail and insight than the notes below.

You may be hurting your child and not even know it.

Therapist, Julie Hanks, says parents, especially moms, un-intentionally use their kids to meet their emotional needs. We have the warning signs.

 5 Signs That You Are Too Close To Your Child 
· All of these apply to all ages of children as well as adult children
· In my practice, this is the most common unintentional way that parents hurt their children.
· Children generally don't even realize that this dynamic has contributed to their current distress.
· In my clinical practice this is more common with mothers & children than with fathers, but does happen with fathers.

1) Your child knows your secrets.  
Tip: Leave child out of details of your personal problems. Examples: Child/teen knows what you can't stand about husband. Adult child knows that you're hiding money from spouse.

2) Your child is your emotional sounding board.  
Solution: Share problems with peers or professionals.  Example: Complain to child or adult child about chronic health problems. Venting feelings of anger toward ex-spouse to child.

3) Your child is your best or only friend.
Solution: Develop and diversify peer relationships. Examples: Young adult female client feels guilty for leaving mom, going off to college, moving out. Teen feels guilty for going out on weekends "leaving" single mom at home.

4) You rely on your child for adult responsibilities.
Solution: You manage the household, or ask other adults for help. Examples: Your child acts as primary caregiver for younger siblings. Adult child manages parent's finances.

5) Your child is your primary source of comfort.  
Solution: Focus on comforting your child and seek comfort from adult peers or professionals. Examples: Call and vent to adult child about depression but refuses counseling. When distressed they call child and exclude your spouses.

Julie de Azevedo Hanks, LCSW is a therapist, self & relationship expert, media contributor and director of Wasatch Family Therapy. Visit www.wasatchfamilytherapy.com for individual, couple, family, & group counseling services designed to strengthen you and your family. We treat mental health and relationship problems in children, adolescents, and adults. Now open in Provo! For additional emotional health & relationship resources connect with Julie at www.juliehanks.com.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Shhhh...don't tell, but Reese will be delivering these cute little treats to a few of her BFF's today! We are so excited to share our latest Pinterest creation.

We got the idea HERE...and they turned out super cute. It was so easy. Just gather those left over mini-candy cane's from Christmas. Arrange them in the shape of a heart, with a lollipop stick in the center, onto a Silpat, wax paper or parchment paper. Fill them with melted white chocolate, milk chocolate or what I used, Andes Mint Peppermint White Chocolate Bits. Then decorate with sprinkles, or other candies. Allow the chocolate to set up and whala!! Super Easy!

The best part...I didn't have to buy a thing. Everything we used was left over from Christmas.