In praise of the cookie

By Terry

When my daughter Emily (6 1/2 years old, and don't forget the half, thank you) was born, my husband and I decided that I would stay home. Taking care of her and her brother Jonah (almost 3), and the home that we all live in, is my job.

With a deft hand and a glad heart, I am a teacher, a nurse, a therapist, a chauffeur, a maid, a laundress, and a chef. I also teach Sunday school, lead a Brownie troop, and teach classes for children at my local library.

Last week, I was baking chocolate chip cookies to hand out with the lemonade that we'll make at an upcoming class, and they were cooling on the counter when Emily came in from school. With a quick "Can I have some?" she tossed her jacket and pack on the floor, and sat down at the table.

Jonah was still napping. We had some time to ourselves, and she told me about her day, about the secret world of school. Things slowed down. I stopped what I was doing and listened to her.

As anyone who has spent much time with me knows, I love to bake. I think nothing of buying 10 pounds of butter at a time when it's on sale, and I easily go through 25 pounds of flour during the holiday season.

I bake all kinds of cakes, pies, and tarts, but my favorite thing to bake -- and to eat -- is cookies. I have a dozen books devoted specifically to cookie recipes. There are usually three or four kinds in my freezer.

The wheels of our lives are greased with butter and sugar, and I've bought a lot of goodwill with not much more than a bag of chocolate chips.

I've used cookies for all sorts of off-label purposes. I've given them out as tips to mail carriers and garbage collectors, handed them to workmen in my home at break time, and used them as thank you gifts for teachers. I've sent them to school as surprise treats, packed a few for snacks on car pools, and made sure I had a warm batch on hand when a new child came over for a playdate.

I know that we are supposed to try to keep our kids from getting food and happiness all mixed up in their heads. I do. But the truth is that I bake for my children out of love, not duty, and they know it.

When Emily gets off the bus and sees that I've been baking, she lights up. When Jonah wakes up from his nap, he "steals" the cookies off the racks and peeks at me over his shoulder, chocolate smeared around his grin.

When I bake, when I pull out the ingredients and the mixer and the pans, I slow down. I think about what I'm doing, and who I'm doing it for, and why. It's all about the love.

The cookies are the messengers.

Editor's Note: Terry is a new DotMom. You can read her bio here.

Comments

[ebeth]

what a great read... you almost inspired me to learn to bake! :-D seriously - very nice.

[Terry]

I make the mini loaves and freeze those when I have too many bananas...that way, there's usually some around, but not enough to throw me totally off my program!

[Robin P]

Welcome to the world of DotMoms!

I used to bake a lot in my younger, single years so I have tons of cook books in my collection. I don't have as much time to bake anymore but when I do it is done with my whole heart, just like you do.

I love baking treats for the December holidays. I try to attempt new recipes every year. I also make chocolates which turn out to be the gifts for as many people as I can manage. It's always wonderful to receive an edible gift, isn't it? People really seem to enjoy it.

Baking for Rich and Lillianna is very fulfilling for me. A banana bread in this family lasts less than 24 hours. They each have a huge piece the minute it is out of the oven....then maybe one more. They pack a piece the next day for lunch and then one or two pieces for a snack at night and it's gone!! My mom always suggests that I freeze half of it. What's the point? They would reach in and eat it frozen!!