At times, I am completely floored by the differences between me and the offspring. Like at the park, watching him try to scale baby-sized boulders, so carefree and surefooted. Each rock is just a mountain waiting for a Max to come and climb.
Me? I'm a klutz. I'm awkward and run into things and do not watch where I'm going or what is in front of me. So there is no carefree surefootedness here. Just thoughts of please don't fall, please don't fall please don't fall. And then I fall. Or run into the corner of something, resulting in yet another giant bruise. Or bang an elbow in a doorway. My body finds a myriad of ways to hurt itself.
Then there is our differing outlook on bugs. One day, Max and I were in his room, and he pointed at the wall, filled with glee and joy. And there it was. A giant spider. I panicked on the inside. But I put on a steely face and went after the spider with a shoe from Seth's closet. My attempt to vanquish the 8-legged arachnid was futile and it gracefully sidestepped my attacks. And each attempt to get "Gigantic Spider" resulted in fearful crying by Max. He apparently wanted the spider to stay alive. Like a pet. A pet spider.
In fact, he was so smitten by the spider, he asked for more bugs. When it was explained to him that no, I would not actually be bringing him more bugs to play with, he marched right to the computer to do his version of "research" - looking at bugs and spiders online. I took his distraction as an opportunity to sneakily creep up to his room and spray "Gigantic Spider" with bug spray.
But other times, our familial connection is much more visible. Much more visceral.
Sometimes that connection comes in a small tube. Chapstick, actually. My obsession has been passed on to him. We will never know if this is nature or nurture at play. He carries around a container in his coat pocket. And he has his own container of my cast-offs, smelling and playing with each tube lovingly. They have found themselves a good home with him.
And we also share a love of citrus and chocolate. When I saw this in Cooking Light, I was so instantly smitten - so easy, so creative, and so delicious. I found myself getting Max and myself ready to head out the door, literally running (okay, more like galloping with a stroller) to get the stuff (chapsticks, naturally in both of our coat pockets). And once these were made, both of us happily munched, together united in a love of chapstick and a love for citrus and chocolate. Our differences in bug control and risk taking being pushed aside for the moment.
Ingredients
slice of a crusty whole wheat french bread, toasted
1 tablespoon Nutella
Cara Cara orange, segmented
pinch of fleur de sel
Instructions
This is so ridiculously easy. Just take your toasted bread and spread Nutella on it. Sprinkle with citrus segments and a pinch of fleur de sel. Then chow down.
