I have a post on bread coming as soon as I get the pictures loaded. Until then I thought that I would share this little parenting experience with you all.
Today I picked up The Kid from school. He is in 3rd grade. I was waiting in the car and ended up waiting a little longer than usual. No worries, though, as we have plenty of time to get to our standing Tuesday appointment. I also have the windows down and am doing some people watching in this glorious spring weather.
Finally The Kid comes and gets in the car. He says to me, "I'm sorry that I'm late, Dad."
"No problem. What held you up?"
"Someone wrote in my book."
The Kid has been reading Harry Potter and carries it with him pretty much everywhere. I say to him, "Someone wrote in your Harry Potter book?"
"Yes. I was erasing it. That's what took me so long to get here."
He shows me the book and I can see along the page edges where something was written and erased. I ask, "What did they write?"
"Fuck."
I know that I can't just burst out laughing at this so I just say, "Oh." The Kid replies, "But what does that mean?"
I want to say to him, "Well, son, 'fuck' is a very versatile word. It is one of the few words in the English language that can be used as a noun, a verb, and an adjective. It really does have a rich etymology." But I can't say that so I settle for, "It's a bad word."
At least he's reading.
And just so you don't leave hungry, here is a very simple brownie recipe that can be thrown together in minutes. You can have great brownies in less than an hour. Try using the brown butter in one of the previous posts. I bet that would be really good.
Brown Sugar Double Chocolate Brownies
1 stick butter, melted
1 c. light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
½ c. flour
½ c. cocoa
¼ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
½ c. chocolate chips
Blend butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Add eggs; beat mixture well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually blend into egg mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in a greased 9-inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan.
HA! Love the first part as much as the second part. Ya'll handled it well--I'd be madder than hell if someone wrote in one of my books!
ReplyDeleteSigh, I'm going to have to try that burnt butter stuff and we both know how that's going to turn out for me!
Wow. That sucks. I dread all that. Kids can be so evil.
ReplyDeleteAnd yum to the brownies. Haha.
Mostly I just tried to not make a big deal out of it. I did, however, point out to him that I though it was wrong for someone to write on his book. I know that he will one day discover the use of cursing. My only hope is that I can teach him that there are better ways to express oneself. Of course, I need work on that, too. But still...I suppose it's just part of growing up.
ReplyDeleteAnd Stacie, it's BROWN butter, not BURNT butter. It's easier than you give yourself credit for.
Nice job.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree on the not making a big deal out of it.
So many make such a big deal, that it entices more of the unwanted behavior. The whole forbidden fruit thing.
Swearing is indeed a fine art one needs to learn.It can enhance meaning, or make you look like a total idiot. I work with a guy who uses "fuckinshit" in practicaly every sentence. He uses in place of other words he doesn't know, or at least can't come up with fast enough.
chef! i tried to make your sticky rice dessert ... does it have a name? the one with mangoes and coconut sauce. my kids LOVED it!!! http://rettacliff.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteHey Suz,
ReplyDeleteThat recipe is very, very old. It originated in Thailand, I believe. While I can't pronounce or spell the proper name, it translates into "Sticky Rice with Mangoes" ;)
Seriously, I'm glad to hear that you made it. I love making that stuff. I love eating it, too.