what's cookin?
one of the biggest blessings of this stay-at-home time has been the many sit-down family meals we've been able to enjoy. it's common for us, in normal times, to pack dinners into our bento boxes and eat in the car or at the ballet studio. we've been able to sit down at the table for a couple of weeks now and often when we ask "today's high and low?" the kids respond, "high- this meal!"
our dog is getting a bit bolder begging. i guess it's a trade-off because she's spending less time digging through the garbage while we're away. (we're never away.)
a favorite book, a treasured resource, has helped me to enjoy this time even more. when i begin to feel bored or i start to mourn intense loss over the busyness we once enjoyed, i sit and read a few pages and reflect on the ways that this time is a blessing to my dear children. it's not my default to keep things simple, so the forced slow-down, while hard for me, is really such a good thing for the family.
mostly matthew has been cooking. the kids are his handy choppers and peelers. i lay my tired body on the couch and soak it in, occasionally throwing instructions at them- "ossi get the plates, finn forks, evy cups, liam napkins." and after, we're each learning to help until the meal is all cleaned up, a small accomplishment that brings a simple family satisfaction.
"Coming together, committing to a shared time and experience, exchanging conversation, food, and attention...all of these add up to more than full bellies. The nourishment is exponential. Family stories, cultural markers, and information about how we live are passed around with the peas. The process is more than the meal: It is what comes before and after. It is the reverence paid. The process is also more important than the particulars. Not only is it more forgiving, but also, like any rhythm, it gets better with practice." -Kim John Payne
our dog is getting a bit bolder begging. i guess it's a trade-off because she's spending less time digging through the garbage while we're away. (we're never away.)
a favorite book, a treasured resource, has helped me to enjoy this time even more. when i begin to feel bored or i start to mourn intense loss over the busyness we once enjoyed, i sit and read a few pages and reflect on the ways that this time is a blessing to my dear children. it's not my default to keep things simple, so the forced slow-down, while hard for me, is really such a good thing for the family.
mostly matthew has been cooking. the kids are his handy choppers and peelers. i lay my tired body on the couch and soak it in, occasionally throwing instructions at them- "ossi get the plates, finn forks, evy cups, liam napkins." and after, we're each learning to help until the meal is all cleaned up, a small accomplishment that brings a simple family satisfaction.
"Coming together, committing to a shared time and experience, exchanging conversation, food, and attention...all of these add up to more than full bellies. The nourishment is exponential. Family stories, cultural markers, and information about how we live are passed around with the peas. The process is more than the meal: It is what comes before and after. It is the reverence paid. The process is also more important than the particulars. Not only is it more forgiving, but also, like any rhythm, it gets better with practice." -Kim John Payne
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