I’m so thankful for the day I had yesterday. First Born came over to do laundry because the machines at her apartment were broken. She and I made a 7-layer taco dip for lunch and she hung out and watched the Tigers/Cowboys football game.
Back in the olden days when she lived here, she would have scurried to her room like a cockroach in the light if ever Mom and the Big Guy came to sit on the couch with her. But yesterday BG and FB watched the game together. Little One and I don’t enjoy football, but I read my biography of Elizabeth I and LO sat and talked.
Snowy winter days seem to bring out the pioneer in me, so BG and I spent the afternoon cooking. We have stocked up on enough dinners so that we will not actually have to cook again, other than Christmas dinner. Here are some of the things we’ll be eating this month:
- Two gallons of butternut squash and corn soup
- Six pasties (Cornish meat pies)
- Dozens of meatballs
- Two gallons of meaty spaghetti sauce
- Stewed pork ribs
- Ahi tuna with a wasabi pea crust
- Vegetarian enchiladas
- My mom’s beef and sour cream casserole
- Rouladen (German beef rolls stuffed with bacon and pickles)
This afternoon my First Born is coming over to help me cook a turkey for the homeless shelter’s dinner. FB has never cooked a turkey before so this is my chance to show her how to roast and carve one. She wasn’t so interested in this when she lived at home! We’re also going to make Christmas cookies when Little One gets home: Santa’s Whiskers, shaped cookies, and peanut butter kisses.
These are all the kinds of things we did when the girls were younger, but in their teenage years, they lost interest. After all the struggles and attitude lately, I’m feeling so blessed for yesterday. And feeling hope for today!
P.S. If you’re interested in any of my recipes, just email me or leave a comment!
8 comments
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December 10, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Karen Vogel
Thanks for giving me hope for the future. It’s true, it’s almost as if they have to reject all the fun things they did as kids in order to grow up; but once they’re grown, they feel “safe” doing those things again.
December 10, 2007 at 3:35 pm
josie
Wow, so there is hope! Yeah!!! That’s pretty amazing that you could all sit on the couch and do something together. I wish I could get my 17 yr old to do something with us.
Interesting, even eclectic, mix of foods. Italian, German, Japanese, Mexican, American … I’m impressed.
December 10, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Stacey
I read this and while I feel so happy for you and your daughter, it’s so bittersweet for me….our daughter has chosen to move out her senior year–she didn’t like the rules. And it feels as if nothing will ever be right again. I read this and know there is a little bit of hope for the future, that she’ll one day come home and we, as the prodigal son’s father did, will have a celebration. I pray for that day’s hasty arrival.
December 10, 2007 at 9:03 pm
angelawd
All of you, there really is hope. My oldest moved out as soon as she could afford to because she didn’t like our house or rules. At the time I was so hurt. It didn’t feel like our relationship was ever going to be good again. And here it is a year and a half later and she comes over without even being asked. She hugs me when she sees me (and even hugs her evil stepfather too!). I never, EVER thought this day would come. I have faith it will come for you, too.
Oh and josie, we really do have some eclectic tastes. It’s lots of fun for Big Guy and I, but Little One is still a little picky about what she’ll eat.
December 11, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Damama T
I’m so happy for you! You definitely deserve to have a little peaceful family time. Thanks for sharing. xoxo
December 12, 2007 at 11:00 am
playingmanyparts
Thanks for sharing and giving us some hope for a calmer, happier future with our teens! I am so happy to hear that your relationship with your daughter is coming around. Really, sharing that gives me such hope that I am not a failure, but that teens are just hard.
Also, I would love the beef and sour cream casserole and Rouladen recipes if you get a moment.
December 20, 2007 at 10:48 am
JHS
Thanks for participating in the Christmas Edition of the Carnival of Family Life! The Carnival will go live at midnight (Pacific time) on December 24, 2007, at Colloquium!
Happy holidays!
December 24, 2007 at 4:40 am
fathersez
Great story.
We have to expect the time when “our little ones” are suddenly not so little and want to find their own lives.
We just have to do what we sincerely think is the best for them. And sooner or later they’ll realise that and come back to us, at least emotionally.
We just have to make sure the bumps along the way do not knock us over.
Our only son, is now “entering” this phase.