Being a good mother doesn't end with creating a home where just my children can flourish. A good mother grows into a richly eutrophic old woman, knowing that her work doesn't end until she creates a home where all of life's beings can flourish.
Meaning
A mother's care can grow beyond her own children to include a wider community and the world they will live in.
About the author
Robin Wall Kimmerer is a Potawatomi botanist, professor and author of Braiding Sweetgrass (2013), known for blending Indigenous knowledge with plant science.
Why This Quote Matters
Rooted in Trust, this line from Robin Wall Kimmerer centers on Legacy and what it asks of us. Read slowly, it suggests that A mother's care can grow beyond her own children to include a wider community and the world they will live in.
Most people don’t need more information here—just a reminder, repeated. Small and steady beats sudden and short-lived, every time.
How to Apply This Quote in Life
Ask a friend to check in on how you’re practicing Legacy this month. Keep the first version small enough that skipping it feels harder than doing it.
Revisit monthly; the same line will surface new specifics as your life changes. That’s the whole exercise—nothing more is required to begin.
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