Ipuna Black

My 14-year-old son comes home from lacrosse practice and asks, “What’s for dinner?”

“Darn, you need to eat again?” I ask him, playing a little stupid.

He starts digging through the cabinets and refrigerator.

“Aren’t you old enough to cook for yourself?” I ask. By golly, he is 14!

“I shouldn’t have to cook for myself after I practice.” The teenage side really comes out.

Oh wait, I guess that is supposed to be another thing on my “to-do” list. Teach my son how to cook and not burn the house down. I’ll have to do that right after homework, piano practice, reading time, and should I try to teach them another language while I’m at it?

I ended up going to a restaurant around the corner and picked up this:

Heh, it’s better than anything I could cook, and he got two vegetables in! I realized that after a long day of making sure my 5 year old has his lunch for his field trip, taking my kids to their activities, chasing my 1 year old around, etc. It’s okay to not be supermom!

He was one happy boy and continued his life texting once he had something in his belly. I didn’t have to spend hours in the kitchen between preparation and cleanup. Sometimes taking the “easy” way out is the best option. I’m sane, he’s fed, life’s good. Give yourself a break sometime!