Chocolate chip mother

By Jessamyn

When I was pregnant, I decided that I would have to make some important changes in my life in order to be a good mother. I would need to be prepared! I would need to keep track of the supplies in our kitchen cabinets and do necessary grocery shopping in advance! I would need to make sure that I always had on hand the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies!

I'm not sure why I decided that the ability to make chocolate chip cookies at the drop of a hat was a requisite for motherhood, but in my third trimester nesting haze, I did. I remember telling Geoff that we would need to make sure that we always had the ingredients on hand. I wanted my daughter to grow up knowing that if we were facing a crisis which could only be assuaged by fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies, we would always be ready. 

Later, I realized how ridiculous it was for me to have been worried about chocolate chip cookie-making before she was even born. After all, she didn't eat or drink anything but breast milk for months! So, for a while, I had stopped thinking much about any relationship between mothering and chocolate chip cookies -- I'm sure it's obvious to any rational person that you don't need to make chocolate chip cookies to be a good mother. 

Last night, I decided on the spur of the moment that we needed some chocolate chip cookies. Katie went to bed between 7 and 7:30, her usual time. While she was asleep, I assembled the necessary ingredients (frighteningly, I had to use the last of the chocolate chips!), mixed the dough, and baked some cookies. 

This morning when Katie woke up, I went in to see her, changed her diaper, and then delivered her to Geoff in our bedroom so that I could get ready for work. Then I went into the kitchen, got a cookie, and took it to Katie. She has tried cookies a few times before, so she recognized it, started rocking, grinned a huge grin, and reached out for the cookie. I broke off a little piece and gave it to her. She took it from me and started gnawing on it. "Mm, mm," she said. She smiled at me as chocolatey drool ran down her chin. 

Chocolate chip cookies, of course, are not a mothering necessity. But I'm thinking my idea is related to a very real maternal need: to feed your child good food. I remember when my friend Laurie was pregnant, she felt very strongly that she needed to learn to make homemade Thousand Island salad dressing before the birth of her son. We all have lots of childhood memories related to food. Maybe it's natural to worry about exactly what you'll feed your child-to-be. 

And maybe you'll understand that I attach special significance to the fact that now, at 10 months old, Katie likes my chocolate chip cookies. (I just need to remember to buy more chocolate chips!)

Comments

[sarah]

You're a mama after my own heart, Jessamyn - whenever I'm feeling like someone in my life needs a pickmeup (even if it's me), I bake cookies, and Everett always gets one for breakfast the next morning! He's old enough now so his sharp little eyes catch them on the way to the living room. (and if it's any consolation, Nicola, even despite Everett's early sweet-tooth, he only ate candle for his first birthday. the best-laid plans...)

[Jessamyn]

Thanks for the suggestion, Kathleen. I'm pretty sure we're already doing that. We provide comfort to Katie in lots of non-food-associated ways, I'm pretty sure, including music (we sing her songs every day and every night at bedtime, my husband plays the guitar pretty much every day, and we play CD's regularly) and stuffed animals (there is one stuffed dog in particular that gets her laughing more than any others). It was never my intention to teach Katie that food is a sole source of comfort. I don't mind teaching her that chocolate chip cookies are an occasional tasty treat, though.

[kathleen]

You could also build memories and traditions around music and objects. She could learn to associate comfort with things aside from food like a special CD, stuffed animal or blanket.

[Jessamyn]

Well, I knew Katie was a good eater, but I didn't realize other babies her age or a little older wouldn't want to eat much of a variety. Katie likes EVERYTHING we have given her so far, except for pureed veggies and pureed meat! She has four front teeth, and she uses them to gnaw on the edge of things like cookies. Good luck to you on Kellan enjoying his birthday cake next month!

And I bet your Magic Soup is delicious, Robin!

[Nicola]

I'm just impressed that she can eat cookies at 10 months old! My guy's useless with anything more solid than mashed potatoes. I'd love to feed him a cookie, just as a treat, but it would only induce vomiting. He'll be 1 in Feburary and I've always looked forward to letting my baby dig into their own chocolate cake on that all important first birthday. Kellan's going to need some quick improvement in eating abilities if we're going to let him do that without choking and spoiling the event.

[RobinP]

I never felt the need to be prepared like that although, being a Jewish mother, I do have the need to feed at all times! My big claim to fame in Lillianna's eyes is that I can whip up home made chicken noodle soup whenever she is sick. She calls it "Mommy's Magic Soup." The magic is love according to her. I just love that!! A side of chocolate chip cookies probably wouldn't hurt her either....lol.

[muse]

easiest cookie recipe, can be usee for chocolate chips, cinnamon, nuts, seeds, anything

1, 2, 3
just keep those proportions
in grams, with a kitchen scale
100 grams sugar 4 oz
200 grams no salt baking margarine 8 oz
300 grams flour 12 oz (can substitute some powdered chocolate)
and whatever chips, flavors you want

melt marg in micro
mix dry ingredients
add marg
mix

spead on large baking pan with low sides, 1/4 inch or more thick, evenly, use baking paper on bottom

bake in medium oven until looks and smells ready
take out and slice
hardens as cools