Celebrating Tree Moms

My mom is the best! She’s big and strong. She’s smart and always right. She protects me from the wind and hot sun. I’m a lucky little sapling.

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I like that my mom and I are super close. I feel like I can come to her with anything, and she will listen and give me good advice. As a coconut palm, I appreciate what she had to go through for me to exist. Those coconuts are huge compared to the seeds of most trees. Thanks mom!

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Although it’s great being close to your mom, sometimes you need a little space too - especially in the Oregon Badlands where we live. There’s not enough rain most of the year, so we all need to spread out a bit to make sure we have enough to drink. Luckily, my mom knew all of this, so she made sure we each had our own space and room to grow.

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My mom and I have a good relationship now. I just wish I had listened to her more when I was young. She told me if I posed like this for too long, I’d be like this forever. Of course, I didn’t believe her at the time, but she was right! Luckily she still loves me, just the way I am.

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Even though my mom is no longer right beside me, I still feel her presence around me all the time. She gave me life. She helped me grow. And even as she started to decline, she shared her love - and some nutrients - with me and the forest. She’ll always be part of us.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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This story is dedicated to my mom and all the moms.

Please forward this to anyone you think might enjoy it. Thanks!