My mom and I used to bond over her houseplants when I'd visit, but since I moved back home temporarily, she's become controlling about how I interact with them and it's turned into this weird symbol of whose space this really is.
More people experience this than they realize.
A returning adult child has disrupted established domestic rhythms, and plant care has become a proxy for deeper negotiations about autonomy and belonging.
“Where Are You with The examined relationship with plants?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.