Oliver is home for a PED day today. (Again.) As he’s bigger than the Small One, we’ve been just sharing the house space all morning, doing things separately, until he needs food. He had a granola bar the moment he woke up, and he asked for eggs and bacon for breakfast, which I indulged him in, since it’s nearly the weekend.
Then he was basically off my grid for the rest of the morning, playing Minecraft and puttering around. I kind of forgot he was even here, until he came into the kitchen at ten past one this afternoon.
He: Mummy? Um, can I have something to eat?
Me: Oh god, Oliver… I’m so sorry! Of course. What would you like?
He: What do we have?
Me: Food.
He: *cocks head to one side and gives me a slack face that says come on, man.*
Me: Sandwich?
He: *wince-y face* Hmmm…
Me: Eggs?
He: I already had eggs today.
Me: Right. Sorry. Um… pasta?
He: *happy eyes* Okay!
I go to the fridge and look around, feeling bad that I’d forgotten to feed my kid. Holy crap, I suck at being the mum sometimes.
Me: Would you like… asparagus?
He: *wince-y face* Hmmm…
Me: Zucchini?
He: Yessss…
Me: Ham?
He: Um… no, thanks.
Me: Shrimp?
He: You don’t have to… they’re frozen, right? *shakes head* It’s too much trouble.
Me: It’s not too much trouble for you, Boo.
He: *shy smile* It’s okay.
I put salted water to boil, and peel a tiny clove of garlic, and dice up half a zucchini. There are still herbs in the window boxes, so I clip some parsley. I keep a jar of Classico Tomato & Basil pasta sauce in my fridge, since I just don’t have that kind of time, yo I’m too lazy to make my own. He only wants a small spoon of it on the pasta anyway.
Fifteen minutes later, I serve him a warm plateful for his little belly, with a few curls of pecorino romano on top. Hot lunches are never overrated, I reckon. He asked me if he could have it again tomorrow. Sweet boy.
It’s Thanksgiving weekend… as Sara and Christine have both mentioned today, the food banks are always in dire straits – so many have not enough to eat. Not even a super-easy, inexpensive bowl of pasta. If you can see your way clear to donate some canned goods this weekend, they will be put to good use, for certain. And if not this weekend, then another day soon – the service pantries can always use the donations. Always.
I am thankful for my splendid boy. I’m glad for the food in our cupboards, and the ability to turn ordinary things into something delicious to sustain him.
Be thankful, people – we have so very much.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
It’s so easy to just tack on an extra few dollars to the grocery bill at the end of the week, and drop a bag off at the fire station on the way home… yes. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving, Idas!
Indeed, Ms. Margot… xox
Amen to that.
Thank you for the reminder to take my kids to the firestation to make a food drop.
Awesome friend.
Delicious and appreciated. A great reminder for us all to think of others at this time of year and always as we are so lucky and have so much.