I bought three little plant growing kits from the Target $1 section several weeks ago: basil, chives, and a “sensitive plant.”

They all three sit on my kitchen window sill, growing like crazy, and soon in need of being transplanted to a larger pot.

I can’t stop harassing the sensitive plant. It’s a plant with unique fern-like leaves that, when brushed or touched, curls up and almost wilts down for a while. Every time I go into the kitchen (and sometimes I find reasons to, just to do this), I jab and poke at the plant. I get a kick out of watching the whole thing pull in and shrink down and seeing actual movement in a plant.

“Look dad,” I said when he was up visiting. “Look what happens when I mess with this plant!”

The little plants are getting their workout, to be sure. I just can’t stop harassing them.

And so it is with sensitive people; we like to do the same.