French Fries

 

I forget how things are so different for the kids. For one, I never had a microwave until about 1990, I always did things the “old fashioned” way—with boxes and cans and stovetops/ovens and Kraft mac & cheese, almost from scratch. For example, in trying to make dinner tonight, Joe made what he calls “sloppy me’s” and Ben decided to try making French fries. Joe was most proud that he was able to use the manual can opener successfully for the very first time. The browning of the meat cooking lesson was done long ago, so that went fairly well—the stove is never the same after, but still, it is not a total disaster. This was all underway by the time I came home from work to the funny smell permeating the house. Ben intercepted me to explain why. Seems Ben decided to try to cook the French fries in the microwave. Frozen French fries are not microwaveable in any edible way that I’m aware. Since no damage was done other than the premature loss of a few good fries and a minor explosion in the microwave (which Ben cleaned up), I forged ahead and demonstrated other ways to make the perfect fries. Dinner was magnificent (other than the fact that potato chips and French fries are not typically my idea of side dishes—I think they counted the chips as a vegetable). Thanks, boys!

 

And, Em got to spend the entire day playing with her friend Nia. I think they have started their summer out right.

 

But, it just reminds me that no matter how much I think they may have paid attention over the years, when they are doing something for the first time, it’s always a better bet to be standing by just in case, which kind of pleases me—I’m still needed, and they aren’t all grown up.

 

The solution to adult problems tomorrow depends on large measure upon how our children grow up today.

 

~Margaret Mead

 Published on: Jun 13, 2006