Because mine is a family that laughs through its tears and smiles away its fears, my daughters have figured out that my Baywatch moment is now the mother's ultimate trump card.
The whole you-know-I-carried-you-in-my-tummy-for-9-months simply pales beside the I-braved-the-scary-seas-just-to-save-you refrain. To be used judiciously, of course.
That’s for my older daughter.
For my younger one, it’s I-swam-back-and-stayed-alive-just-for-you.
Of course we concocted these in jest – we even have our own save-me-I’m-drowning-it’s-Supermom-to-the-rescue dance. Yet we knew there was an underlying, um, current of relief and reassurance.
As I’d said to friends in an Eat Pray Love moment, may we enter 2008 knowing that no matter what happens, all will be fine - we are blessed and we are loved.
And just to illustrate, look what my kids surprised me with today when they got back from school after spending the night with Dex - they traced "I ♥ U MOM" on the cake I'd made for dessert!
I used Claudia's foolproof and fantastic recipe. First time I'd used Lindt 85% dark chocolate instead of 70%, and I increased the quantity of sugar to make the chocolate less bitter. I used to make a similar flourless chocolate cake, but my recipe called for 8 eggs, then beating the egg yolks separately from the whites, then blending them all together with the melted butter and chocolate. Too much work, too many bowls. Claudia, as always, simplifies things to their essence: chocolate, butter, eggs, sugar and a tablespoon of flour.
Yum! Thanks, C!
I'm "famous" I made it onto your blog...now for book # 2!!
love you love you....
C xx
Posted by: claudia shaw | January 27, 2008 at 09:05 PM
C, um, you were born famous! But now we have to conquer the world with the follow-up cookbook!
Posted by: bambinawrites | January 27, 2008 at 10:55 PM