Parenting 101

"It takes a heap o' living to make a house a home!" 

-Edgar A. Guest

Last night there was a Relief Society meeting on parenting that I was supposed to go to. I decided that the best parenting advice that I could take this night was to stay home and be a parent. 

I made a healthy and nutritious dinner of Swedish pancakes slathered in jam and whipped cream. Jonah reached for a cookie as I was flipping pancakes, to which I replied,"No cookies until you've finished your pancake!" You know, because I'm a mom who believes in getting your nutrients before indulging in sweets.

Jessica offered to whip the cream, a skill she wants to hone before going to college. She plans on eating Swedish pancakes nearly every night while away at school. All you need is eggs, flour, whipped cream, and a gym membership.

As she began to whip the cream, a prong broke on one of the beaters, sending cream flying all over the kitchen. I did what every carefree, fun loving mother who isn't trying to get to a Relief Society meeting does, I yelled,"Wait, don't clean it up until I get a picture!"

So there you have it. I should have had Jessica get a picture of me not losing my cool. That would be worth documenting.

The rest of the night was rather uneventful. We ate delicious pastries for dinner and entertained each other with stories from the day. Jessica talked about how her 60 year old English teacher jumped the principal as he unlocked the door after a lockdown drill this afternoon. He then assured the class that they were safe with him. 

Sabrina began to compare each member of the family to some sort of water fowl. I believe I was a Mallard duck, and Jessica was a Canadian Goose, a comparison that she did not appreciate. Sabrina began to honk like a goose. Jessica griped that her deep voice was nothing to balk at, to which Sabrina replied, "You mean HONK at?" Oh these children of mine.

Now it was time to help Jonah dress his mountain man. He, or should I say I, was handed an illustration of a mountain man dressed in nothing but his long johns. It was our job to dress him in official mountain man garb. We were told to "BE CREATIVE"! Am I the only mother who cringes at such a statement? I was proud of myself for picking up the supplies in advance. I put on my crafting pants as Jonah and I wrestled with felt, and glue, and hemp, and beads.

I was sure to document this one. Not only did I not lose my cool this evening, but I was also "creative". I win!

Voila! An authentic mountain man. The schnazzy indian necklace was Jonah's contribution. 

I'm not sure what was discussed in Relief Society last night. I'm sure they talked all about family scripture study, and prayer, neither of which happened at our house last night. I seem to have  learned what I needed to... that an under-hurried, under-scheduled mom makes the best kind.