“I am not going to LOVE you anymore!!!”,are the heart breaking words screeched on high, by my 4 year old yesterday.
True, these words were said in defiant protest to my unwavering policy on NO SANDAL’s in snow (yes dear, even with your sparkly tights), that were squashing her mini fashionista fantasies. Yet, despite my well intentioned stance on winter footwear, the idea of those words coming from the child of my heart, are still a bit gut wrenching to digest.
Now if my darling 4 year old was nearer to tweenhood, I would, maybe, understand her angst better?
But she is 4..and my life these days is more drama comedy than cozy family sitcom.
Despite my early resolve to be a parent who is consistent and follows through..
I have turned into that mother.
You know, the mother says things like, “Because I said so, thats why!” Or that cringe worthy phrase I uttered just this morning, “fine, if Leah’s mommy lets her, then by all means, trade me in for Leah’s mommy!”
When & where did I catch that cliched parent virus?
I, was suppose to be that mother who listened patiently, talked things out, not overreact …pure Carol Brady calm.
Instead I find this solo parenting thing getting the better of me, and in recent days the Roseanne Bar side of me, comes raging through.
Sure, I can blame it on the very heavy boulders of responsibility sitting on my shoulders at this very moment. Unfinished cookbooks desperate to be done, training for half marathons (what the heck was I thinking?), and you know…day to day life.
But the violins are certainly not going to be playing for me..
The upside, my kid seems oblivious to my cliches & continues on her merry way.
And literally the minute after she said those dreaded words, she looked at my face, and came at me like a linebacker and knocked me down with a huge hug.
What am I suppose to do then? Reprimand her as her scrawny warm little arms wrap tightly around me, squeezing with all the love and gusto a 4 year old can muster?
I am winging it here folks, riding the crashing waves of parenting in a small canoe with a short paddle, trying not to drown.
At least I am consistent with my cliches…
In the end I pray it is the deep soul love that I have for this child that will have to carry us through…
Cranberry Almond Chocolate Biscotti
Talk about consistent… In my attempt to be one of those mothers who always has some fresh cookies in the jar, I find myself always making these biscotti bars. Not only because the recipe is truly one bowl, quick and easy, the base of the recipe is so versitalie, no matter what extras I decided to throw in, it always comes out delicious. This week it was my favorite seasonal cranberries with some leftover toasted almonds and bitter sweet chocolate I had from previous days cookbook recipe testing. Cliched cookie mix for the season, sure…but oh how it works!
Ingredients:
2 eggs
¾ cup sugar
½ cup oil
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp. lemon extract
pinch cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 ¼ tsp baking powder
½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
3/4 cup chopped frozen cranberries
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chunks
Directions:
Pre heat oven to 350F
Mix first 6 ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Switch to your paddle attachment and then slowly add the flour and baking powder. Mix just to combine for about 1-2 minutes. Remove bowl from mixer and gently fold in the toasted sliced almonds, cranberries and chocolate.
Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 9”x2” log. Place logs crosswise, 4 inches apart, on large cookie sheet. With a pastry brush, brush tops and sides of logs with egg. Bake logs 25 minutes. Cool logs on cookie sheet on wire rack for 10 minutes.
Place log on cutting board. With serrated knife, cut warm log crosswise into ½ inch thick diagonal slices. Place slices upright, ¼ inch apart on cookie sheets. Repeat with remaining log. Bake slices 15 minutes to allow biscotti to dry out. Cool completely, the biscotti will harden as they cool.
Store biscotti in tightly covered containers.
Tunie B. style. We compromised on her old summer shabbat shoes. The crown, stickers and jewelry are everyday accessories.
The post that mother… {cranberry almond chocolate biscotti} appeared first on the Patchke Princess.