A Cooking Free Day

I spent the morning wrangling preschoolers, then came home to my usual afternoon of appointment making, laundry, emptying the dishwasher, fielding (and dodging) endless snack requests, etc. What I really wanted to do was sit outside on the porch with my feet up, a pitcher of something cool and refreshing at hand. Maybe this iced green tea with mint and honey.

But the tummies do rumble. And mom needs to plan a meal.

Sometimes we try to prove a point with the boys and make them eat vegetables and try things they insist they don't like. Isn't that what we're supposed to do? No substitutions, this is not a diner, no I will not make you something else. It's your own fault if you go to bed hungry. The dinnertime litany.

Last night's supper did not go over well with the kids. Later they were in their beds groaning "we're hungry."  What mother can resist her hungry children? I brought them bananas to eat in their beds, and wrestled with the question of whether this was the right or wrong thing to do. But it occurred to me that sneaking upstairs to give them a snack might be a sort of a good memory for them someday. Maybe they'll think, yeah, mom could be strict about things, but really, you always knew that she loved you. Honestly, is there anyone out there who has fond memories of their mom being a hardass?

Anyway, back to today. My wonderful husband came home from work with an easy meal for the kids, and I went to yoga and breathed for an hour. Aaahhhhhh....

No cooking required after all.

Tomorrow is our 10 year wedding anniversary, and there's two pieces of wild-caught halibut in the fridge, and thoughts about Bananas Foster (we were watching Top Chef Masters just now, and that was one of the dishes). Things might get interesting.