Cookies Equal Accountability and Self Esteem
Posted on:
August 23, 2018 | Doula Inspiration, Doula Self Care
I became a mom and there were two things that mattered more to me than anything else when it came to what my kids would become.
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Great self-esteem
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Amazing childhood memories
The following is how chocolate chip cookies contributed to both.
It started in kindergarten.
On the first day, my daughter chose her outfit, picked her shoes, decided on a hairstyle (half up, half down), put her two pocket folder in her backpack, slung it over her shoulder, grabbed my hand and marched to the bus stop.
She sat on that bus like she owned it, and as it rolled away… I died inside a little bit; for a moment.
And then, an idea came to me!
I took my younger daughter, strapped her into her car seat and headed for the grocery store!
In the car, as I drove, and she kicked the back of my seat…
I brainstormed an idea that became the most beloved childhood memory and family tradition, of the Patterson Fab Four, to date!
We got to the store and bought all of the ingredients to make… chocolate chip cookies!
Now, you may be thinking, “Big deal… Chocolate chip cookies. So what?”
But, those cookies I baked that day, were just the beginning.
When 3:45pm came around and the school bus rolled in, warm cookies had just rolled out of the oven and a cold glass of milk had been poured.
I sat with 5yr old Erica, as she dunked pieces of cookie into her milk, licked her chocolaty lips and told me the details of her first day.
That afternoon, I committed to my girls, that every single year from that day forward, when each of them walked in the door, after their first day of school, warm home made chocolate chip cookies would be fresh out of the oven for each of them, and a cold glass of milk would be waiting.
OK… So you’re still saying, “So what? Big deal. She made some cookies…”
Now, I’ll let you in on a little secret.
It was hard. Really freakin’ hard. My girls are 4 years apart and I did that shit for 17 straight years!!
You see, I made a commitment to them, and part of growing the self esteem of other human beings, is proving to them that they are worth your time and effort.
And when I say effort… I mean EFFORT!
There were years where I raced like a bat out of hell to get home and get those cookies in the oven.
Times where I called my husband and pleaded with him to run home, mix the dough and throw it in the fridge to give me a head start.
And there were times where I mixed dough with a debilitating migraine headache…
Over the years the stories they shared over those cookies warmed my heart, made me laugh, made me proud, contributed to their self esteem and built the kind of memories that last a lifetime.
So, from my family to yours, Happy New School Year and happy self esteem building!!
Authored by: Randy “The rock n’ Roll Doula” Patterson
