Making Dinner

{baked halibut for fish tacos.}

i thoroughly enjoy making dinner for my family.
truly.
{love it, actually.}
but, lately i've been stumped...making the same things over and over...
being ill prepared...having to go to the grocery store every day.
{which is a waste of time and money.  and therefore, makes me grumpy.}
so, last week i decided to bring weekly menus back into my life.
{not sure why i ever stopped doing this.}

as i was making my menu for the week...
it came to me that randi needed to be apart of this process.
i would give her one night a week.
she would plan and prepare the meal.
and, i would pat myself on the back for being a good mom.
simple, right?

yeah.  not so much.

she chose fettucine alfredo.
{mimi gave her an awesome recipe.}
when i told her it was time to start dinner...she moaned that she had to finish her homework.
{although it was early release and she had been home since 1:30.}
reluctantly, she made it to the kitchen.
and.
sat on the counter.
here's a few snippets of conversation while we she made dinner.

her:  can't i just learn to order take out?

 



me:  ok. here's your water for the pasta.

her:  ok. what do i do with it?  how do i make it boil?

{i didn't realize she did not know how to turn on the stove.}

 

after she cut the green onions she said,

"how do i get them to the pan?"

me:  ummm...your hands.

her:  ewwww!

 

her:  what do i do with all the water after the pasta is ready?

 

me:  this is how you saute mushrooms.

her:  but, i don't like mushrooms.

me:  others like them.  so, you need to make them so we can top the pasta with them if we want.

her:  if i'm cooking i don't think i should have to make them.

{she made them anyway.}

 

 

it was comical.

she did not have the same love for cooking as i do.

and as she said, "why should i?  i have you."

 

i had flashbacks to a time when i was about her age

and my mom was trying to teach me to sew.

i had no interest or patience.

i had my mom to make everything...why should i learn.

and, as far as cooking was concerned...

i had no interest and was pretty grossed out to even watch or get my hands dirty.

{paybacks are hell.}

 

 

but, all said and done...

the meal was fabulous!

everyone loved it.

although i helped...she was with me...learning...

{even if she didn't want to.}

 

so, we will continue this little venture.

because, some day...she will thank me.

 

 

the next evening, she came in and asked me what was for dinner.

i told her.

and she said,

"you know mom...you making dinner tonight is like going on stage after elvis."