The Bad Mother

Every culture reveals itself in its practices, sayings and colloquialisms.  The chlorophytum plant is known in Chile as The Bad Mother. It reproduces by stemming out to its sides and creating a new plant away, but around itself.

This has been taken to be, in Chilean culture, the sign of bad parenting since in our culture separating oneself from our children is frowned upon. In general, latin american culture promotes a family woven around the mother figure, tied by bonds that transcend any human experience. Therefore, the idea of giving offspring space to grow separated from oneself is incomprehensible and qualified as 'bad'.

In other cultures, the chlorophytum is called "hen and chickens". The notion is completely different to the Chilean one in that the mother plant, instead of neglecting, grants is children their own space while still keeping a protective distance.

Parenting is a delicate balance of keeping children under your wing and thrusting them forward so they can fly on their own terms, using their own compass.