So, yesterday I began my Friday ritual of preparing meals for the upcoming week. Since you guys and that daddy of yours are all carb addicts, I make about two loaves of bread a week. And this week, I planned on having two nights of bun-donned meals, turkey joes and black bean burgers, so I needed about ten cups of wheat flour. And ten cups is a lot. I figured I had enough, but I ran about 2 cups short.
And I know this sounds like the makings of a math problem, but I promise, it isn't. I left for the store around 1:00, thinking I'd have plenty of time to come on back to the house and finish before picking you, Sam, up from school at 3.
Only traffic in Baton Rouge on a Friday afternoon is an absolute nightmare, and I knew we needed to take a used battery back to Auto Zone for a 10% rebate. And I also knew I needed to go to the UPS to get ripped off for some shipping (it's a 58% mark up - don't do it. I had to, but if you've ever got a choice, opt for the Postal Service. It's slow and the lines are insane, but you don't feel like you're getting ripped off, and that's worth the time, I think).
So, I left my half-finished dough on the counter and took off. And instead of coming home when I had about an hour until carpool, I decided to take a run.
And I forgot about the dough.
My run was glorious, my grocery shopping was effortless, and with my $16 rebate in pocket and packages shipped, I headed my sweaty self to the elementary school and brought my Sammy home.
And when we opened the door, the smell of yeast wafting in the air, we found this....
In case you're wondering, why yes, there is more on the floor.
So, laughing, I picked up the would-be bread and buns off the floor and counter, added the necessary flour and YES, in case you're wondering, made my weekly carb quota with the whole darn mess.
You ate it, you lived, and you smiled, so don't freak out.
It's funny, though, because it really made me think - this expanded dough rose out of control because it sat, unnoticed and unkept for way too long. Don't get me wrong: letting things wait can be really important in life. But other things - other things just can't wait.
So, I thought I'd give you a short list of the things I've learned can wait and the ones that just can't.
THESE THINGS CAN WAIT:
- SEX. Oh, come on, you knew this was coming. I'm your mother, for God's sake. I'm not going to tell you that sex can wait because of diseases and unplanned pregnancy and all the other slew of reasons people will tell you. I'm not even going to mention the emotional pain and toil and complication that happens once you have sex with somebody - anybody. I'm going to tell you the plain truth. Sex can wait because it's a mess. And likely, you won't be any good at it for the first few years anyway. You'll be clumsy and not at all comfortable with your own body and you need someone there with you who you can count on. Someone who won't laugh at you too much or take you too seriously. Someone who you can stick with and practice with. Because Lord knows you won't get any better switching up teammates. Wait on sex because you're going to wish you hadn't shown your bare ass to someone who will later pretend not to know you on the street.
- DRIVING. I know, I know. This one seems like a real mom thing to say, too. But the truth is, driving sucks. Paying for gas sucks, traffic sucks, it's all a real pain. And you think you're going to have more freedom behind a wheel and at first it really feels that way, but you'll find pushing those pedals means you've got a whole new world of rules to follow. And Sam, once you can drive you'll act as family chauffeur, so don't think for a moment you'll be hitting the road alone. Better to wait. Trust me, there's a real freedom and richness and honesty you get from riding your bike around instead. You can pretend to be a kid in a world that seems to always try to push you into adulthood.
- CHOOSING A CAREER: Sam, your teacher asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up. And do you know what you said? You said you wanted to be happy. You said you wanted a family. You said you wanted to be a dad (also something that should wait). And I was so grateful she accepted your response. If you choose college, they'll ask you to declare a major. And everyone you meet on campus will ask you first your name and then your major. Please don't feel pressured to answer straightaway. Because whatever you choose at 18 years old is probably not what you'll do when you're 50. And making a life-long decision isn't something anyone should trust an 18 year old to do. Ever. So when they ask you (and they will), feel confident and proud to tell them you don't know. Or lie. Because telling a great story about wanting to save whales as a marine biologist might just be fun. Or a great pickup line.
- HOME OWNERSHIP. I know this is a real fast-forward, but mortgages are a real drag. Rent for a while. I know it isn't the most financially profitable thing to do, and a lot of smooth talking investors are going to say you're throwing money down a drain, but once you own a home, you're solely responsible for every brick and every wire. And you have to sign a lot of paperwork promising a lot of people you'll pay for something for the next 30 years. And who in the world knows what the next 30 years holds?
THINGS THAT CAN'T WAIT:
- ORAL HYGIENE. If you're in bed at night with fuzzy teeth and a lingering sense of guilt, get up and brush. You won't regret the two whole minutes you spent preventing cavities. Seriously, who wants to be 25 and told she has a cavity (I may or may not be speaking from experience, here.).
- SAYING I LOVE YOU. This may surprise you. When you're young, you may find yourself overcome by intense emotions. If you love someone, tell them. Don't hold back. And if they don't love you back, fine. If you scare them, who cares. Life is too short not to speak your truth. I tell you I love you everyday because I know you and I may not have tomorrow. I knew I loved your Dad when we were 18 years old. And I knew I wanted to marry him. And I told him and it worked out. I'm just saying, it can happen. Don't let fear keep you from honesty.
- BEING THERE FOR SOMEONE. You'll have times in life when you'll have to decide between giving your time to others and keeping it for yourself. And it's really okay and necessary to choose self-care. But sometimes, we do things for people because they need. You'll have these times, these chances, to show love. Please take them. When you've got that deep, gut-nagging draw to call someone you haven't spoken to in ages, call them. When you know one of your neighbors lost his job, don't just pray for or avoid him, invite him to dinner. Don't wait to love people who need love. I don't imagine you'll ever regret it.
- HUGS. Hugs can't wait. Give them often and freely. Studies prove people who are avid huggers live longer, happier lives. Go on, be a hugger. Even the non-touchy feely types will hug you back...most of the time.
Kids, I'm no genius. To prove it, I just used spell check because I can't even spell the word genius. Nailed it that time, though. I'm not brilliant. But I love you. And you have to do these things, because I'm the mom. Sure, I'm the mom who feeds you bread made from dough off the floor, but I'm the mom. And I said so.
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