Mother's Day Breakfast is a tradition in our family that goes way back. When our children were young, their idea of such a feast was so wonderful. Their daddy would allow them to do their version. I would be presented with a plate of a bananas or an apple, jelly beans, red hots, bread with jam, and various other items that the children would think to be the perfect breakfast.
As they grew up, the food on the plate changed, but the enthusiasm did not.
Heather has been planning Sunday morning breakfast with Dorothy for a week. She has promised her that they would make breakfast together.
Yesterday, Chris told Heather that he was going to be off on Mother's Day. She was so excited. He has been planning the day off for two weeks now.
The day of the Mother's Day Breakfast was changed to this morning. Dorothy was so excited. Brian had decided to join in on this great event.
Heather began by grinding the wheat, some corn, and barley together for pancakes. Then Dorothy and Brian joined her in the kitchen and helped her add the rest of the dry ingredients into the flour. Dorothy added the baking soda and Brian added the baking powder. They each took turns stirring. They are learning that to stay in the kitchen they are to totally obey Mommy.
Cooking is the one event in the children's lives that they want to participate in from start to finish, so the process is a great teachable moment about following directions, taking turns and group participation.
The next step was to put together the wet ingredients. Heather pulled out two eggs and as Brian observed, Dorothy was allowed to crack the eggs and open them up into the bowl for the first time, then Brian was allowed to scramble the eggs. Dorothy then poured the buttermilk into the measuring cup while Heather held her finger at the level where she needed to stop. Then Heather added the vanilla.
Dorothy stirred the wet ingredients into the dry as Brian cheered, and then he was given his turn to stir.
As Brian sat and watched, Dorothy poured the batter onto the hot griddle and stood watching and waiting for the time to turn the pancakes. By the time she turned the third pancake, she was an expert pancake flipper. Then it was Brian's turn at the stove and he was so excited to be Mommy's helper.
Dorothy was allowed to use a knife to cut her own pancakes for the first time at this momentous breakfast. She was so proud of her accomplishments of the morning.
Since Brian is the man in the house when Daddy and Granddad are gone, he said the prayer over breakfast. "God. Thank you for this food. In Jesus' name. Amen!"
As we sat and ate our pancakes with maple and cinnamon syrup, and a cold cup of whole milk, Heather and I decided that these were truly the best pancakes that we had ever eaten. We thanked Dorothy and Brian for their wonderful efforts in the kitchen and loved seeing the joyful smiles on each of their faces.
