Sugar Cube Igloo with Frosting, *recipe not included
Kira threw a major hissy fit yesterday. Maybe it was the culminating pressure of being home sick for a week. Or it could have been the stress of listening to me harp about the post-concussion care list over and over again. Whatever it was, she snapped. Here’s what happened:
I got an email from her teacher, requesting that I send a box of sugar cubes and a tub of frosting to school. The kids, she wrote, would be creating igloos to further their study of Alaska. Kira was delighted as she watched me shove the construction materials into her backpack.
She danced and sang, “We build them. Then we eat them.”
“No,” laughed I. “You will not be eating them.”
Note that in the above sentence I was using the royal, plural YOU, as in “there is no way the teacher is going to watch YOU–27 eight year-olds–devour handfuls of sugar dipped in frosting and then sit YOU down to a lesson in subtraction.”
This is what Kira heard: “The lucky children of your class will gleefully participate in the ancient Alaskan igloo-eating ritual, but not you my little pretty. No, not you. Ha-ha-ha. You will be sitting in the corner with a basket of chard and a sign that reads: I am the class goober. Life is totally unfair.”
Now clearly I have made my case for wanting the children to eat healthy foods. But contrary to what Kira may want you to believe, I am not an organically-obsessed ogre intent on wringing every last ounce of joy from their childhood. I follow every healthy vegetable-laden dinner with an equally healthy ice cream sundae (or cookie or slice of pie or leftover piece of Halloween candy.) Balance, you see, is key.
A recent article in the NY Times floats the idea that an intent focus on teaching kids about healthy foods could send them over the dietary edge. A kid obsessed with fat, they insinuate, is no different from a kid obsessed with pesticides or vitamins or omega 3 fatty acids. A kid obsessed, they feel, is a kid in an unhealthy relationship with food.
Forget for a moment that I am on the record in support of obsessions. Am I “driving (my) kids absolutely crazy,” as Katie Wilson, president of the School Nutrition Association would apparently claim? Kira probably would concur, but I’m not 100% ready to toss in the tomatoes. Still, in the interest of appearing open-minded, I’ll concede that she has a point worth considering.
So here is what I am going to do while I let these new thoughts-on-food germinate against my open mind…
I’ll simply feed the kids one sugar frosting igloo for breakfast, and another sugar frosting igloo for lunch. Then, I’ll follow them up with a healthy, well-balanced dinner. Moderation, after all, is key.
PS–Hey, today is my birthday. And here is my birthday song:
Happy Birthday to me
I don’t want broccoli
Or anything that’s healthy
Just some chocolate cake for me!
15 Replies to “Sugar Cube Igloo with Frosting, *recipe not included”
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Happy Birthday Daphne. Enjoy your chocolate cake. XO
Hysterical! MJ would have heard the same thing! Happy chocolate cake day!
Why are you always out to get your daughter, you evil mommy? Love the balance concept though and am happy to eat all of my broccoli when there’s a sundae waiting for me for dessert. Thanks for the NYT article…good read, too.
GREAT post. I love the part where you say, “No, YOU will not be eating the frosting covered sugar, you will be eating chard, in the corner, and it will be whole wheat chard” HAHAHAHAH I also love the fact that the girls are still eating their Halloween candy, even after it’s already been mysteriously culled. I guess it’s only been 4 months.
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy Birthday Daphne!
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Daphne,
Happy Birthday! If you’d like I’ll donate our igloo so that you have enough for breakfast and lunch. I’m sure Maddie would be happy to share! (NOT) We’ll save a piece or cake for you tonight.
Leslie
Nothing like a little fit to make your bday even more special, right? Just remember, your day to shine!
xoxo
Happy Happy Birthday–Will go right out and buy chocoloate cake and hopefully share it with a friend and sing”Happy Birthday” to you. And perhaps I’ll send you a piece. Seriously, have a wonderful day–there’s still a few hours left for you–to enjoy the joy of the day.
I gleefully announced to Melissa’s kindergarten class today that I allow her to eat her favorite foods; donuts, ice cream, and root beer floats, for dinner every night! Cause I’m not a mean mommy!
And, you forgot to mention alcohol to go along with your birthday cake. Because, you know, chocolate cake goes really well with wine, or beer, or a pitcher of margaritas!
Happy Birthday!
Meredith
I think this was good for me to read…. I think my kids probably think I am too mean in this department. Thanks for the encouragement! Happy Birthday my friend!
I am such a loser to forget your birthday – hope you had a heaping piece of cake. I feel a craving coming on right now in fact.. Happy Week!
I hope that you had a great day and lots of chocolate cake!! xoxo
Great post too!
Hi Daphne- Hope I’m not too late to say Happy Birthday! Give us a call over spring break if you are free.