ChewysPLANEjane--

You never really realize, that the small insignificant things you do in your daily life truly make a big impact in your children's. Something as simple as taking junk mail and in your child's eyes; making it the best airplane ever!!
My little guy is sooooo in love with trains and airplanes. He marvels when a plane soars overhead and in that moment he is there flying like the plane. He extends his arms and his chunky legs take him on his own private journey; gliding and swooshing through the backyard. His turns are smooth and effortless. So one day we decided to make paper airplanes out of junk mail. You know? your mailbox is usually overflowing with all kinds of junk you didn't ask for. In this case it so happened to be some nice paper stock; firm enough for good plane making.

I'm a mom! and I'm sure somewhere in the job description, right next to baking!!!! is the ability to make awesome paper airplanes! yea..yea! and even after three children, before my little guy came along I was making paper airplanes. So what's the deal? I can make one good enough to kinda, sorta fly. I know these said paper airplanes are not the best, but my son THINKS they are awesome and that's alright by me. My son thinks I'M awesome for making him paper airplanes and that's GREAT by me.

That is until my hubby gets home. My son is squealing with joy when my husband gets home and he runs to the door to say "look DADDY!, look at my awesome airplane!." "WOW" exclaims daddy "that is awesome son!." my son is again, twirling and swooshing through the air loving his paper airplane. Until.........his daddy says "I can make one for you better than that." My son comes to a screeching halt! the excitement and joy leaves his face; replaced with a question. I can tell he's thinking really! can you really top this super, awesome airplane mommy made me?

My husband starts scrounging around the house, all excited....looking for the perfect piece of paper to use. I am slightly irritated that he thinks he's going to TOP my airplane, but I give him the best junk mail we have left and with hesitation "Here. Use this!" He is actually humming and with each fold looks down into our sons big brown eyes and exclaims ahhhhhhhhh.................ohhhhhhhhh...............ewwwwwwwwwww........so much so that my little guy has his hands clasped tightly; barely containing his excitement. His face looks like Christmas morning, and he's Ewing and ahhhing...in perfect harmony with the hubby.

Later that evening, as I was cleaning up from the day I found my paper airplane behind the couch; lost and forgotten. I smiled to myself thinking about the day, and how wonderful it is that he has the Best daddy in the whole wide sea ; as my son had said.

In that moment I felt grateful. I felt grateful because I know not every little guy or girl has a Daddy to make them paper airplanes and that is so sad. I felt grateful for the simple things in life that everyone else (including myself) take for granted. I felt grateful for the family I have and all the craziness that comes with it (lol).

As I checked on my little guy one last time that night, and arranged his covers to keep him snug I realized he had his Daddy's paper airplane in the crook of his arm. My little angel asleep and angelic with his prize possession at his side. I didn't feel jealous or competitive, I just felt grateful and my heart was overflowing with LOVE..............

ChewyTacklesTheCookieMonster!

It's all a vague memory now.......scarce traces remain......little children's giggles and snickers rebound in the mind, reminding me of my past humiliations.

There's nothing like planning your little ones first few birthday parties. Those are the best parties to plan. The whimsy sends you back in time, to your own childhood and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and...

The all important theme, that is carefully concluded by your child's latest obsession with Thomas the train, X-men wolverine, Barney, The little mermaid (Boys & Girls themes people!!!) Princesses, Barbie etc.....Deciding this, is the all important first step into the evolving perfection known as the Themed birthday party, which has the parents on a frenzied hunt for anything boasting that image; T-shirts, outfits, stuffed animal and gazillion toys.

So, you'd think I would have acquired some sort of expertise on the matter. I can tell you I've not missed a beat when it comes to the guest list (not a person forgotten), and I am always the fullfiller of my child's fantasy theme (not a table, chair, wall left undecorated within an inch of it's life) party favors, plates, napkins; heck even the glitter was inscribed with Hannah Montana.

So, what's the problem? why is it that every time I feel one of my kids birthdays approaching or I get a call from one of the Golf, soccer, football, cheer leading, baseball, track, basketball MOMS that it's my turn to bring a dessert to the awards banquet I simultaneously have a break down?

The dirty secret......wait for it.........I- c-a-n-t b-a-k-e -!!!!!!! Some might think what's the big deal, so she can't bake. Have you ever seen your child's face when his/her cake is revealed for a room full of the people he/she loves the very most in the entire world. Booming with excitement, on the edge of their seat waiting to feel the warm glow of candles as they close their eyes and dream the impossible dream, ready to make the ever so important WISH come true. They inhale that sweet breath, their lips pucker, their eyes close with purpose; all to come to a screeching halt as they slowly open their eyes and realize that the cake is LOPSIDED, BURNT, SLIDING off the bottom layer because it's at an impossible angle and even the melted frosting can't stop the inevitable! Their look of mortification, disappointment comes blazing through the candle light and lands on only one person in the packed room; MOM!!!!! without a word I can read the "how could you!!!" all over their little cherub face. Mental telepathy ensues and my child and I can have an entire conversation without saying a word. Let me tell you, you don't want to be a party to those!

My definition of MOM by the very word, somewhere in maybe very small print means "the ability to bake and not mortify the kiddies". So, many of store runs later to buy Little Debbies only to remove the individual plastic and arrange prettily on a plate, cover with saran wrap to finish off the convincing illusion (which most of the sports MOM seemed to appreciate) since I'm sure their child and themselves had to forcibly swallow whatever it was that I had baked in the past. Nobody is going to call me out on my Little Debbie hoax (with appreciation they accept without comment) and many many occasions when my own kids have spit with disgust my latest invention (supposed to to a simple cookie or cake) into the trash, rushing for a glass of water and saying "is that supposed to have salt in it" or "is that supposed to be brownies or a cake" or "I think I chipped a tooth" have come to an end. They have come to an end, not because I have given up. No way! that is not an option.

My pretty red mixer! yes, an appliance that is going to change my baking fate. My confidence has returned and I see nothing but success reflecting back from it's sleek little body. My mother's day gift was given with such hopes for better things to come. My daughter commented that maybe I could actually make something good. One of my sons commented that maybe the cakes wouldn't have those lumps and my hubby commented with an encouraging hand on my shoulder that if " I just follow the directions everything will be fine"....Whew!!! I feel much better already.