There’s a quiet frustration that often bubbles up in parenting — the feeling that all our efforts are invisible, unappreciated, or worse, ineffective. But this quote, “The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit,” gently reminds us that good things take time.
As parents of younger children, we’re constantly planting seeds. Each bedtime story read, each tantrum met with patience, each moment of intentional listening — these are seeds. The fruits of these efforts might not show today, or even next year, but they are taking root.
Jason van Genderen, a filmmaker and storyteller, speaks often about the value of small, daily investments in others. While he is known more broadly for his wisdom in caregiving and family life, his insights speak powerfully to the parenting journey. He reminds us that “we’re not just raising children — we’re raising future adults.” That reframe can shift everything.
The truth is, growth is messy. Just like a seed breaks through dirt before it ever reaches the sun, so too our children are learning and changing in ways we cannot always see. Our role is not to rush the process, but to nourish it — with love, boundaries, empathy, and consistency.
There will be hard days when it feels like nothing is working. Good things take time. The fruit will come. Maybe it will show up in a moment of unexpected kindness from your child. Or when they come to you with their big emotions because they feel safe. Or much later, when they pass on the same love and patience to others.
So, keep planting. Keep watering. Keep showing up. You are doing sacred, slow, meaningful work — and it matters more than you know.
