It's that time of year when the elves are shining Santa's boots and the reindeer are playing their games in preparation for for their big night! Mrs. Claus is probably busy making cookies. And the snowmen are decorating the forest trees.
What?
Don't tell me you're too old to believe in Santa. You mean, you gave up the myth decades ago?
Okay, I get it. You're too cool to believe in Santa...no?
Actually, there is a lot of talk (or emails circulating) in the parenting group I belong to about parents perpetuating the Santa "lie". Yes, some people feel they were lied to about Santa when they were kids, and were devastated when they learned the truth.
Our families and culture have created a fantastic story surrounding Santa and the North Pole. My mind easily conjures up colorfully cold visuals complete with lots of snow and icy winds warmed by Santa's fluffy red cloak, soft white beard, and rosy pink cheeks. The elves are alive in my mind, actively and lovingly, handmaking toys. Even Rudolph lives in all his glory of turning his "non-conformity" into a powerful light.
I see how it could be a big disappointment for a child to learn that these things only exist in our minds. But I don't remember holding it against my parents, other adults and big kids, and society at large, for forcing this belief on me. On the contrary, I WANTED to believe.
Imagination is key to a fulfilling life, not to mention the fuel for new ideas and innovations. Children's books herald talking trains and cars with friendly faces. Fairies, dragons, and unicorns alight our fantasies. Beavers, otters, and dogs are best pals. Why is it so different with Santa?
Some parents are telling their kids that Santa is pretend, and that we are playing a game, in order to save them the future disappointment.
I read one father's thoughts and I agree with this: that children should be allowed to believe and negotiate the Santa "myth", as well as any other myths, tales, hypotheses, or opinions, themselves. That a lot of learning happens through the experience of believing in Santa.
He shows that children actually WANT to believe. They begin asking questions like "How does he make it to every kid's house in only one night?" and "How do the reindeer fly?" They are testing the story and its magic, can these things really be true? But if we ask them, "What do you think?", their answers often will show that they are still holding onto the magic and their belief.
As they get older, they begin looking for clues. They notice Santa and Mommy have similar handwriting or the wrapping paper used for gifts from Santa was stored in the attic. The questions become more detective-like.
It reminds me of watching an engaging movie for the first time with someone who has already seen it. As suspense builds, I start asking questions like, "Is she going to live?", "Those people are actually ghosts, right?", and "He's the one who did it, isn't he?" I start fishing for clues, but I don't REALLY want to know the answers. I would actually feel disappointment if someone spoiled the story for me.
Eventually we all grow to the age where reasoning begins to surpass our imagination. We run down the stairs in the middle of Christmas Eve night hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa, but see Mom putting the old typewriter under the tree. Or we sneak out of our rooms and catch Dad eating the cookies and drinking the milk. Or we exclaim proudly, "I figured it out! I was 'looking for my book in your bedroom' and came across a receipt from Toys 'R' Us for the Hot Wheel race track that Santa brought me..."
Hopefully, it isn't a big kid who is the spoiler. It seems some folks hold a residual grudge for that. I don't believe anyone should spoil someone's dreams or beliefs. (Leaving clues may be another topic.)
Dreaming and believing are a valuable skill throughout our lives. One must believe in both the possible and the IMpossible while reaching for goals, because once the belief is gone, many dreams die with it. So, as Journey sang, "Don't Stop Believing!"
And I'll ask you one more time, Do you believe in Santa?
Showing posts with label Humor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humor. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
The White Pepper Incident
It is a dream of mine to start each morning baking something warm for breakfast like strawberry and cream scones! And one of these days I will have a piping kit so I can fulfill my design fantasies on birthday cakes and waffle-flavored cupcakes. To dream about baking given my track record in the kitchen seems lofty, but this is one persistent dream!
As an adolescent, I began developing a belief that I was a terrible cook, "You don't want me in the kitchen, I burn everything!" As a waitress, I joked with folks, "That's why they keep me out of the kitchen, so you'll come back!"
Sad. I LOVE food and being creative, and naturally felt I should be at home in the kitchen. Further, to raise kids without providing yummy home-spun meals depressed me. I didn't let go of my secret desire to bake and cook, even after a history of mostly failed dishes.
Once when I was fresh out on my own, I tried to make Matar Paneer, an Indian dish I'd never tasted! I figured since I didn't know what Paneer was and I didn't have any, I could leave it out of the recipe. (Ha! I know, can you believe it???) I thought since I liked tomatoes and Indian spices, I would probably like this meal, even though I only tolerated peas at the time. (For those unfamiliar with Matar Paneer, it basically has three main ingredients besides the spices: tomatoes, peas, and paneer, an Indian cheese.) As you can imagine, one bite was awful. One plate was insufferable and the Matar minus Paneer met its fate with the garbage can. (Sorry, Matar.)
Did I learn from this mistake? I certainly didn't learn that following a simple recipe might be the key to my success as a beginning kitchen chemist for more than a decade. It wasn't until age 35 that I decided it was a good idea to select a simple recipe and stick to it! The rebellious creator in me thought I was doing justice by putting "my own spin" on things. This system, or recipe, was hampering my creative flow.
Just ask Chris about the white pepper incident. Needless to say, one dash of this ingredient I used to "jazz up" spaghetti sauce devastated the deliciousness it once had going for it. I had become the butt of my brother's joke. He teased me endlessly about the bean dip I served every time he visited, including holidays. I learned how to assemble the bean dip when I was a teen, it had become my stand-by, and I was standing by it...clinging to it, because it was all I knew I couldn't destroy.
Well, you would be proud to know that I didn't take bean dip for our Thanksgiving feast at my brother's. I actually made rustic stuffing with lots of herbs, boiled the cranberries for whole berry sauce, and made a simple fresh-tasting green bean dish. The cranberries were served in my Grandma's glass bowl. I made WAY too much stuffing. And I want to share the Sesame Green Bean recipe with you.
I have to give credit for our Thanksgiving day prep and cooking to Chris. He really did a lot! And we managed to stay mostly sane as 2 cooks in a tiny kitchen.
Oh, and I make yummy pumpkin scones for breakfast sometimes!
Sesame Green Beans Recipe (Serves 4, ready in 30 minutes)
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
1 pound fresh green beans, cut into 2 inch pieces
1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sesame seeds. When seeds start to darken, stir in green beans. Cook, stirring, until beans turn bright green.
2. Pour in broth, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook until beans are tender-crisp, about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until liquid evaporates.
Enjoy!
As an adolescent, I began developing a belief that I was a terrible cook, "You don't want me in the kitchen, I burn everything!" As a waitress, I joked with folks, "That's why they keep me out of the kitchen, so you'll come back!"
Sad. I LOVE food and being creative, and naturally felt I should be at home in the kitchen. Further, to raise kids without providing yummy home-spun meals depressed me. I didn't let go of my secret desire to bake and cook, even after a history of mostly failed dishes.
Once when I was fresh out on my own, I tried to make Matar Paneer, an Indian dish I'd never tasted! I figured since I didn't know what Paneer was and I didn't have any, I could leave it out of the recipe. (Ha! I know, can you believe it???) I thought since I liked tomatoes and Indian spices, I would probably like this meal, even though I only tolerated peas at the time. (For those unfamiliar with Matar Paneer, it basically has three main ingredients besides the spices: tomatoes, peas, and paneer, an Indian cheese.) As you can imagine, one bite was awful. One plate was insufferable and the Matar minus Paneer met its fate with the garbage can. (Sorry, Matar.)
Did I learn from this mistake? I certainly didn't learn that following a simple recipe might be the key to my success as a beginning kitchen chemist for more than a decade. It wasn't until age 35 that I decided it was a good idea to select a simple recipe and stick to it! The rebellious creator in me thought I was doing justice by putting "my own spin" on things. This system, or recipe, was hampering my creative flow.
Just ask Chris about the white pepper incident. Needless to say, one dash of this ingredient I used to "jazz up" spaghetti sauce devastated the deliciousness it once had going for it. I had become the butt of my brother's joke. He teased me endlessly about the bean dip I served every time he visited, including holidays. I learned how to assemble the bean dip when I was a teen, it had become my stand-by, and I was standing by it...clinging to it, because it was all I knew I couldn't destroy.
Well, you would be proud to know that I didn't take bean dip for our Thanksgiving feast at my brother's. I actually made rustic stuffing with lots of herbs, boiled the cranberries for whole berry sauce, and made a simple fresh-tasting green bean dish. The cranberries were served in my Grandma's glass bowl. I made WAY too much stuffing. And I want to share the Sesame Green Bean recipe with you.
I have to give credit for our Thanksgiving day prep and cooking to Chris. He really did a lot! And we managed to stay mostly sane as 2 cooks in a tiny kitchen.
Oh, and I make yummy pumpkin scones for breakfast sometimes!
Sesame Green Beans Recipe (Serves 4, ready in 30 minutes)
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
1 pound fresh green beans, cut into 2 inch pieces
1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sesame seeds. When seeds start to darken, stir in green beans. Cook, stirring, until beans turn bright green.
2. Pour in broth, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook until beans are tender-crisp, about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until liquid evaporates.
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)