Hi Knitters,I have started the ritual of hot chocolate and cookies with my girls again after school. I fire up the tea kettle before they get home and I try my best to have homemade cookies of some sort ready. Some days it might be a muffin or banana bread but most usually cookies. We've decided we like the mini-marshmallows the best. I don't know what it is about hot cocoa but as we sip we get to chatting. It is so hot that it takes time to drink and it makes for this nice little break time in the day that we can spend together. I love this time so much. The stories about school are the best.
I have a funny story to share. Yesterday, my son appeared home at lunch. He ate his lunch while we casually chatted. Then after he ate he said, "Oh yeah, I need a treat for my 5th hour class," which was in about an hour. I wonder why he ate his lunch before telling me. It makes me laugh that he truly thinks nothing of this. He thinks I can come up with something really great and homemade and instantly. I told him I wish he would give me a little more time. He said he was sorry and that he totally forgot. What am I going to do?
I started scrounging through my cupboards looking for anything that said "treat." There was nothing. I did have a caramel brownie mix, two boxes. I had only two eggs in the fridge. Fortunately, each box called for only one egg. What are the odds? I beat that batter up so fast it would make your eyes spin. I whipped the brownie-filled pan in the oven. He went back to school for 4th hour and as he left he said, "Oh, you have to be at the doors right on time to meet me because I only have a couple of minutes to switch classes." Of course, he said thank you with a big hug and an I love you which always works for me. The pressure was on.
The brownies needed to bake for about 40 minutes and could have used a couple more minutes in the oven but I pulled them out anyway. I had cleared a space in my freezer, no small feat, and threw the pan in to cool it down as much as possible. About five minutes later I pulled the pan out and cut the brownies into squares, he needed treats for 30 so I did a 6 by 5 cut.
Did you know if you cut brownies with a plastic knife that it will cut so smoothly? If you use your silverware knife the brownies clump and stick to the knife making it difficult to cut. My sister taught me this trick and it really works. I may have mentioned this before but I love this trick. We always have some plastic utensils around from potlucks and gatherings. Give it a try next time.
On with the saga...
I frantically covered the still warm pan with foil and tossed a big batch of napkins in a baggie and added two plastic knives for serving. I threw the whole thing in my car and burned up to school. Time was ticking. As I pulled up my son was just walking out the door.
He came over to the car, opened the door, leaned in, smiled the best smile ever and said, "Thanks, Ma." I said, "No problem." I wiped the sweat from my brow and drove back home.
I love that boy.
best, susie
37 comments:
Oh the things we do for our children. When I have stories like this people say "I hope you're writing this down to retell years from now when they have children." heh
LOVE your cocoa photo - mini marshmallows are the only way to do it unless you're making them yourself and then you could cut them into little bitty star shapes and that would be just like you. You've probably already done it and I missed that post or something. :)
I can relate! i have four boys (all grown up now) and once i was in the hospital with pneumonia...right before the holidays...and our third grader at the time told my poor husband he needed rice charlotte (a delicious dessert that i always made and still do) for the class holiday party...the next day. he told my husband this at 10 pm...just as his dad was trying to get everyone off to bed. my sweet husband, allan, had to call my aunt who knew how to make it...and she coached him over the phone. poor allan didn't get to bed that night until 2 am. and now that sweet little third grader is about to make his dad and me grandparents for the first time. enjoy these wonderful times with your children. i truly miss those hot cocoa afternoons with the kids. but now that they are all grown up...that's very special as well. blessings...irene
Super mama to the rescue!
What a cute story! You are amazing! (I probably would have just bought something--although my son is only 6 months, so I have time to get better at baking :))
Will you adopt me? That sounds so nice!!
What a great story. You are so sweet that that stuff doesn't ruffle you. If my son did that, I would probably huff with my hands on my hips and give him a bag of oyster crackers. I'd much rather have your reaction!
It must be all that cocoa you drink with your daughters...makes you mellow! I'm going to try that. :)
Love your little moments that you share. Sounds so similar here. Too funny about your son. I've dealt with that before also. All you can do is smile, give them hugs and take a deep breath. He knows he is loved alot and that is what matters. You are a great mom.
xxxx
Wow, sons and daughters. I used to have a couple...all grown up now. Well almost....my son is in last year of college. Told me at Thanksgiving he needed some help with tuition this semester. Yes, he has been a gem and managed to pay most of his expenses through school. To make a long story short he called me at 9:30 the other night to tell me the check I gave him came back! Opps, I wrote it out of the wrong acct in a hurry. I asked him when tuition was due, the next morning! Yes, he is my last minute child. This was a flashback of high school Senior year. I don't know how many scholarship applications we did together at midnight because of his last minute habit. I thought he learned by now, not! After I get mad, panic, figure out how to fix it. I get the "I love ya Ma." Certainly makes it all worth while doesn't it. Thanks for sharing. We are lucky women. I think we both know that.
Jimberlys
Susan,
You are amazing! I would have gotten all huffy about it. And I know I would have said a few whiny things under my breath whilst driving to the grocery store to get one of those gross box of cookies.
Susan what a fun story! It brings back really wonderful memories of when my 5 kids were all in school. I miss some of those days. We always did hot cocoa especially on snow days - my favorite type of day in Washington. So today my twin daughters and 3 (out of 11) grandkids are making Christmas cookies. It will be a fun day! Enjoy and know you are a wonderful mom to your family:)
Laura T
What a lovely essay! You reminded me of times when my children were young. One of our boys informed me on his graduation day that he did not have appropriate shoes to wear to graduation. When I panicked he calmly said, "Mom, don't worry, we have 2 hours still." He ended up wearing a pair of his dad's shoes. We still laugh about it.
what a great ritual. try some frozen cool whip on your hot cocoa. it's so much better than marshmallows! stay safe w/ the snow today ;-)
so awesome! my son just loves to drop those bombs on me too. 'Mom I need my field trip form signed....yesterday' has got to be my favorite, followed by, "oh and I signed u up to chaperone!" he has earned the nickname 'captian oblivious' because he has no concept of time and seems to think everything I make happen I do with magic! I too have began baking, from decorating cookies with my preschoolers to brownies in a jiffy for the entire 3rd grade (thanks captian O) and hot chocolate with rainbow mini marshmallows has become a weekend staple. these are the moments I cherish, and hope the kids will have these memories forever. thanx Susan for all your sharing!! you are the wonder mom!!
I am impressed!
And, I think I have a child very much like your son - he's 4 and always half-way to doing something before he asks if it's ok. Or just tells me what he's going to do - Like, "Mom, I'm going to have a candy cane, ok?" as he's ripping off the wrapper.
I loved today's post and all the comments. Thanks to all for making my day!
I loved today's post and all the comments. Thanks to all for making my day!
Obviously, the reason he thinks you can do absolutely anything is because you always come through for him! (Is this the son who needed the B snack?)
I love the cocoa and cookies idea - wonderful!
Reading your blog is so heartwarming. I loved this story, and the end had me all weepy. Thank you for sharing these moments of your life. You're such a wonderful mom. I love reading all the "similar story" comments, too!
You are a kind, kind mother! Reading your blog reminds me to always savor those funny moments, even if they can be stressful! And, sorry to copy, but I think I'll great my kids to cocoa and cookies at least one day after school next week, they would LOVE that! They grow up so quickly! Thanks Susan!
I love mommy super powers!!! Faster than then a spilling cup, Able to keep up with children in a single bound, and who's kisses are pure magic. It's supermom.....
I love the hot coco and cookies we have been doing for the last few days and I am loving the time together.
A truely wonderful Mom and I bet they tasted the best. Love the idea of hot chocolate and brings back memories of when my son came home from school and we would chat about the day, usually with home-made biscuits.
Happy weekend
I love that story. And I would do that for my sons, in a heartbeat. Now I get to watch their children but he always checks out the cupboards and refrigerator and I gladly offer anything there. Enjoy these moments. They don't last long enough.
I love this Susan! Mothers truly are Super Women!
I love the hot chocolate and cookies sit down. Definitely something I'd like to do when my little one starts school.
My sister told me the same trick about the plastic knife to cut brownies. It's great.
Obviously your son thinks of you as super mom and you ARE!
Thanks for the tip about the plastic knive. That would be more gentle on my nonstick pan.
Awesome!!
AND once again you pulled it off. You are such a great Mom. How in the world do you do everything you do, I will never understand!! I always keep a spice cake mix or chocolate cake mix and a can of pumpkin on hand. ALL you need for some quick and easy muffins. (Great Weight Watchers idea!!)
what a great tip about the plastic knife - all these years of trying to patch up my brownies to make them look professional!
I know what you mean about the boys thinking you can whip up something taco pronto! Had 2 of them - young men now - but those were the good old days!
Merry Christmas
Leda
Never a dull moment, right?
Where you live sounds so nice and friendly. Nobody is allowed to leave schools here for lunch. I'm sure it isn't (100%) true, but you make everything sound so picturesque. Just like a perfect fairytale life.
Sarah
Too funny! You are super mom!
I've done the same thing! It might not seem like it, but it really does mean a lot to them that they can count on Mom.
Thanks for the tip about the plastic knife. Here's another good one. When making Rice Krispie treats, it's hard to spread them n the pan without them sticking to the wax paper or whatever you are using. We have discovered that if you take a large silver spoon and coat it with non-stick spray, you can use the back of it to easily press the treats into the pan with no sticking.
Awww! What a good mom you are. Love that story!
I love this post! Brings back memories of when my two were small.
Great story! I have boys, too; I can sooooo relate!
Another good hot chocolate topping: Reddi Wip from a can (yes, it has real cream) and Mr. Sprinkles' Chocolate Sprinkles. And I'm told Marshmallow Fluff makes a terrific topping, but I can never get anyone to try it because they're hooked on the Reddi Wip. ; )
I'd tell him to make his own treats! HA!
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