A Baking Bimbo

So after my attempt of making a "It's so easy, anyone can do it" pavlova,  I have come to the affirmation that I am indeed a baking bimbo...  Quite possibly a kitchen bimbo.  The first thing that many of my family and friends said to my husband before we were married (who is well known for his exceptionally large appetite) was "Good luck, unless you can cook, you might be eating 2 minute noodles and toast for dinner for the rest of your life".  Yes, that was the extent of my cooking repertoire.
I will always be known by my older sister as the girl who she asked to "throw some peas in a saucepan" for her and then burnt them because there was no water in the pan.  "What?  You didn't say to put water in the saucepan!!" (age 18).  But as I reflect on my pathway to becoming a kitchen bimbo, I happily conclude that all blame and responsibility should be placed on my dear Mother (hehehe).  Ok I must admit, I never really had an interest in what went on behind the scenes to making my dinner.  I just enjoyed the eating part.  Spoilt brat!!
I had other interests, interests that I felt were more noble and above those of a kitchenhand.  So where have those noble interests afforded me now that I'm a stay at home Mum??  Can you hear that?  It's my sister in her kitchen right now laughing out loud rubbing her hands together (and she lives 23kms from here).   
So back to why it's my Mother's fault?  Well, even though I didn't particularly have a keen interest in cooking, I feel she should have taken the time to show me how to make some foods or make me watch her and explain how things work.  Who knows, I may have liked it!!  I only just found out two days ago that egg binds the ingredients together and that you can't whip cream too long otherwise it curdles (age 32). 
So now that I'm a Mother, I feel I owe it to my children to teach them these "basic" skills for every day living such as cooking, housecleaning, sewing (flashback to watching Little House on the Prairie!!).  Unless of course you organize an arranged marriage for them with a wealthy family who have cooks and maids.  What the?  Yes, you do no favours for your kids (and their future spouses) by doing everything for them.  I know it's a lot simpler to do so and a lot quicker but we are not helping them in becoming well equipped, self sufficient adults.  So please, when you tell your daughter or son (at age 8) to throw some peas in a saucepan for you whilst you show him or her to make fried rice, tell them that you need to add water.

Lets Hide...

It's 11pm and I feel like taking all my kids out of their beds and bringing them into mine.  In theory, it sounds great, all snuggling together with me gazing at them lovingly as they sleep in order of age.  Listening to them breathing, whilst thinking that they're such little angels.  But in reality, yeah right!!  Even with a king size bed, I know I'll end up sleeping on the very edge almost falling off and at the same time trying to move a little foot that's pressed up hard against my forehead!!
So why even toy with such a thought you might ask?  Well, probably because my husband's away for the next couple of days and I miss him already and I know that snuggling up to my babies will make me feel better.  But yeah, reality check!!  Maybe, I'll grab just one of them.  Number 3 usually stays asleep, hehehe....
Sometimes (and I mean SOMETIMES!!) I find myself wishing I could just hide my kids from the rest of the world, keep them at home and not worry about going to school and doing all the things that the world expects of them.  I wish I could be their Peter Pan and whisk them away from the monotony of life's responsibilities and let them be free.  Free to play with no timetables and restraints of any kind.  And in doing so, not have any concern of danger or illness.
As I imagine this, I see lots of glitter, sparkle and bright colours.  Almost as if we were living in a snow globe, isolated from the grey of the real world.  How nice would this be?  For some, it might sound horrible and absurd, but for me at this very moment, it sounds magical.  I yearn for this, a place where my children run free without a care in the world.  And all they need is to be loved and taught to be kind, gentle, respectful and all other wonderful virtues, that will lead to everlasting happiness.
I am tempted to fight against the world's robotic moulding of my children but am reminded that they have to live IN this world and that sometimes "the road less travelled" isn't always the most favourable one, particularly if we are to be deemed (or stamped) as "normal" and be "rewarded" with society's acceptance that we, as humans, so naturally desire.
Still tempted?  Yes, but only for a day, as I know I will have to eventually return them to the real world and any longer will prove to have repercussions.  Oh and another reality check?  Well, our trip to Neverland would probably only last till mid morning, cause by then I'll realise there's a reason why I do enjoy sending them to school = less fighting, crying, screaming and cleaner house.  Hence, the emphasis on why I "sometimes find myself wishing...".