There are cookies in my kitchen. Peanut butter cookies. And last week there were cupcakes. Blueberry cupcakes. The week before that, the smell of fresh brownies nearly drove me to distraction.
My daughter has recently discovered baking and she’s treating us to an array of mouthwatering goodies on a continual basis. Now, far be it from me to complain about this cornucopia of sugary confections, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain my willpower and refrain from gobbling it all down.
For years, my young Ms. Baker has talked about becoming a biologist when she grows up. It’s morphed over the years from a marine biologist (the universities are too far away) to a wildlife biologist, but in recent months, she’s contemplating opening her own bakery! I guess family is standing in as the current beta testers.
I have so much enjoyed watching my kids grow up and discover new interests, try on new identities and test out new experiences. Sometimes I’ve pushed them into trying something new and sometimes they’ve come home with them on their own. Whatever way it happens, I’ve always been glad to support them through this testing process.
Some things they’ve kept, and others they’ve discarded. We’ve done soccer, gymnastics, years and years of swimming, choirs and many other things that have been tried once or twice. They’ve spent time volunteering at athletic and cultural events, and have earned money teaching and working with children, including those with disabilities. All great opportunities to learn and grow.
Ms. Baker has recently decided that unlike her eldest brother, she doesn’t want to take a business course at high school next year. When I questioned her about that decision – after all a bakery-owner needs to know something about balancing the books – she smiled sweetly and said that that same brother, who’s now studying Commerce at university, could manage that for her. I’m not sure he knows that yet, but given that I’m always talking to them about how family takes care of family, perhaps he will!
My teens are still young – at 15, 16 and 18, all three of them have many years to continue trying new things. The “decisions” of today may not be the final ones. But for the meantime, I’m enjoying watching them grow. Now if only the growth didn’t also affect my waistline.
God help me. She’s talking about cheesecake next week
