Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Think Out Loud [21] Comfort Food

I recently indulged in major comfort food, by recently I mean yesterday. But the mini-adventure (and it was a tiny adventure) drew me to the many foods and circumstances that brought simultaneous tears and laughter in the past. First big one was right after I broke up with my high school sweetheart at the tail end of senior year. When I told my mom, she looked like she was about to cry. "But what about prom?" "Who cares about prom, Mom?" She's not proud of her first reaction, but made up for it when she sat me down at the kitchen counter and made me a crispy bacon and peanut butter sandwich. I kid you not, it's amazing! In college in Hawaii my sister and I hit our favorite Mexican restaurant, Peppers. In college in Washington state I discovered the power or root beer floats. When I came home from the hospital after having my first son and I was so lost I couldn't think, my mom brought over homemade bread and lasagna. 

Yesterday I had to hold Will down to for two shots and a finger poke for blood. I thought if I told him in advance that he had to get a shot he would be better prepared and he wouldn't say those terrible words he had last time, "How could you, Mom?" He started hyperventilating an hour after I told him. When the time came and he was bouncing around the room ready to bolt, I did my job, but there's a cost to a person's spirit when she has to hold a child down who is trying with all his might to escape pain. The cost must have been too great to hide because the nurse rubbed my arm, not Will's. I accepted the comfort because the gesture was kind, but I wanted to clear things up for her that I was fine. Even though I wasn't. 

After the appointment I drove us to the store. Found the Hershey's chocolate bars. Searched for the marshmallows only to find three sizes. I had no idea which size was better for S'mores since I'd never had them or seen anyone eat them. I chose the big ones, of course. No grill or fire at the ready, I went with the stove. This girl was going to knock an item off her dreamer list and it wasn't going to be pretty. John paced around me with white powder all over his face because he already started on his marshmallow. I waited and waited for it to get crispy over the burner on the stove. Yes, told you it wasn't going to be pretty. "What are you making, Mom?" "Not sure." "Will it be good?" "Oh yes." And it was, though I have a ways till I become a master at stove top S'mores. 

Think Out Loud is a "whatever you want" meme. Post a quote, youtube video, rant, poem. Post anything on your mind. It's a wonderful chance to step outside your blogger routine.

18 comments:

  1. that's a nice story and a good memory.

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    1. Amazing how soothing a hurt can be more significant than the hurt itself. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. I'll have to try this, "Think Out Loud" meme. Thanks for sharing. This was an interesting story! :)

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    1. Oh, it's a cool meme and you don't have to go on and on like I do. One day I'll do a gif and leave it at that. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Awwww. Comfort food. Best. Mom. EVER. Way to go Robyn!

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    1. I can't stop thinking about your TOL post. She's so honest that she carries the burden of others wanting to be that honest too, but they start with her.

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  4. *hugs* to both you and John. Shots aren't funny, and it isn't cool to have to help hold your child down so he can get those :(

    YAY for the s'mores! I love those. Did you know that hot chocolate with marshmallows in it is just the best comfort drink ever?

    Have a great day, Robyn, and thanks so much for continuing to share little pieces of yourself with us each week.

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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    1. That's how I fell in love with Mercy Thompson, those hot chocolates she kept making (and the cookies). I've never made homemade hot chocolate before. Hmm. Thanks for the hugs. Virtual or real, love them. Have a great weekend (I'm jumping ahead to forget all the work I need to do between now and then).

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  5. LOL I love reading your reminiscence of the past. I too enjoy my comfort foods. Not sure if they could be called that but I do have a sweet tooth. :) And I really do want s'mores. Haven't had them in ages.

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    1. Oh, goodness, I have a sweet tooth too. I want s'mores over a fire now, maybe not while camping though since I'm a bed kind of girl. Thanks for stopping by. I really enjoyed your TOL.

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  6. Nice post, Robyn. I love these stories you tell us about yourself and your kids. It feels like I've known you guys for a thousand years. Thanks for sharing.

    Have a fantastic weekend!

    PS:Sorry, I didn't get this: "down to for two shots and a finger poke for blood." Injection shots?

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    1. Oh, two immunization shots plus the nurse had to prick his finger for blood. I've had too many stitches and shots to be squeamish about blood or needles, but the boys do not follow in my footsteps. They take after their dad...hehe. Thanks for the kind words. It is funny how you really get to know people through this world of blogging. People I see everyday know less about me. It's always so nice when you stop by and comment, Kaykay. Have a great weekend!

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  7. I love these posts, Robyn. You always make me smile. Wanna know what I do after my kids have to get shots? We get milkshakes! Yep, all that creamy goodness always makes it better. :) Now that peanut butter/bacon sandwich?!? I'm gonna ask Sky if she'd like that...she's a bacon lover...like with a t-shirt saying 'I'd be a vegetarian if bacon grew on trees'...but I'm skeptical. Root beer floats on the other hand?? I'll make sure I have the fixins' next May! LOL

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    1. You have to toast the bread, that's very important, butter it too because no part should be good for you. Don't go nuts on the peanut butter (haha-get it), and the bacon has to be crisp. I love that bacon vs. vegetarian quote. Milkshakes is the way to go. I want one right now. I'd make another s'mores but I ate all the Hershey's chocolate bars. So there's a glitch in the system I'll have to work out for next time. Your kids start school so soon! Will starts after labor day. John's preschool not until mid-September.

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  8. I hate it when parents have to hold their babies down for those moments. That shouldn't have to happen. I am really glad that you guys all got to enjoy s'mores though! They are a spectacular treat that everyone should have at least once. Love hearing that you keep knocking things off of your dreamer list :D Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.

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    1. I need to do the s'mores over a real fire, but I think it still counts. Holding your kids down is just plain painful. When John was only 6months old he had to have an IV for one of the tests on his kidney. They missed 9 times and finally had to put it on his head. Terrible! And there was no comfort food to be had at the hospital. I wasn't even a reader then! I hope you and Zane had a great week (and now weekend).

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  9. I can really relate. Intellectually, I know it's harder on us than it is on them, but emotionally, that's a whole different story. My son, Jack, who will be 4 in November, has been terrified of doctors and nurses until just recently. Recently as in last week when I had to take him thinking he might have croup. (He ended up having an ear infection and a cold, not croup, and I'm glad he's on an antibiotic for his ear. He never complained once about his ear, so I didn't even know).

    The minute we hit the waiting room, before I even signed in, he'd start wailing. I remember when he was about a year old, he threw up milk all over the waiting room. And it was packed full. >.< I made my dad go with me that time, and I'm glad I did. It's the worst when you have to hold your kid down. You feel like the bad guy even though you're doing what's best for them.

    Jack was crying the first night we tried to give him his amoxicillin, and so Brady told him we'd have to take him to the hospital and give him a shot if he wouldn't take his medicine. I know that's mean, but he was seriously throwing a four alarm fit. My sister is a nurse and has been living with us along with her daughter, Mila. So Brady said my sister would give him the shot. He totally calls our bluff and walks over to my sister and says, "Will you make it not hurt?" Broke our hearts! Could not believe he'd rather take a shot than take his medicine. Well, he ended up taking the medicine, so that was a crazy time.

    Then I took my niece Mila to the doctor for her one year checkup since my sister's work decided at the last minute that she couldn't have the time off to take her. Total surprise came when they were like, "We need to draw her blood today." I was like, "What?!?" I had to hold her down for that, and it was pure hell. Pure and utter hell. I told the nurses, "I'm gonna kill my sister's supervisor. For real." It isn't even safe to be an aunt anymore!!

    S'mores are the perfect comfort food, and they're fun to make with a campfire. You did a great job - I can't cook to save my life, so if you can make them over a stove top, then you aced it in my book!

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    1. Oh man, it's not safe being an aunt. That's terrible you had to hold your niece down. And that was so touching that Jack went up to your sister and asked if she could make it not hurt. Every day for John's first year he had to take antibiotics because of his kidney. And he screamed and cried every time. Will would get so mad at me, "Stop hurting my brother!" So sweet. Some nights I bawled my eyes out giving John that medicine. But they know we love them. We're there suffering with them, rubbing their backs and using our gentle mom voice. That means a lot to kids. Your sister's supervisor sucks balls for pulling that number at the last minute. Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer!

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