It is finally Fall in Mississippi. I like seasons. At 180 degrees in the shade in July, I find myself wishing for a milder climate. Hawaii perhaps? However, I want some snow in winter. There will not be much because, well, Mississippi… but there is snow potential. A change in leaves should accompany turkey and pumpkins. Cold weather should accompany little voices singing, “Dashing through the snow.” Nobody should be checking the surf report with “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” playing in the background. Admittedly, I wish we enjoyed a longer spring and fall, but they are brief. So brief, you can miss them if you blink. In the Spring, things can remain cold through Easter and then before you know it, there you are, in the middle of another summer in the South. Even though we do have air conditioning, despite the movie adaptation of A Time to Kill suggesting otherwise, it is hot. Really hot and humid. This usually lasts well into October which means we are typically gearing up for all the great aspects of football season without great football weather. Until now. The air has finally turned crisp and a drive through my town offers up a backdrop every bit as pumpkin spiced as your latte. Hawaii can keep their surfers. I have my seasons.
Now, I know I am joined by all moms out there when I say one of our persistent challenges is menu planning. Comes around every week. Balancing the foods your kids like and keeping up the variety so no one gets bored (especially you, since you are doing all the work), takes time. Let me just stop right now and say kudos for your effort. I see you, girl. Great news! Colder weather brings seasonal menu options to help in the variety department. Comfort food! Soups! Spices and flavors that take a back seat to summer salads and outdoor grilling in July. Lots of great slow cooker recipes that allow you to maintain your hectic schedule and still have a great meal ready by dinnertime. I want to stop for a minute and talk about some important tools. Surely, you have a crockpot already. If not, why? Stop right now, do not pass go, or do anything else without rectifying that. I have included the link below to the one I use every week. I also want to propose adding an instant pot to your list to consider for your kitchen must-haves. I have a link to the one I have below, which is a 4 quart. You can certainly go with that, but I would think about getting a larger one. I find myself wishing mine held more. Either way, the link below will take you to some options. There is so much you can do in an instant pot. Chicken takes 8-10 minutes. Meatballs are perfect in 8 minutes. Really. From the working mom perspective, all the bases are covered. I can let the crockpot slow cook a yummy meal while I multitask or if I got distracted with meetings and now it’s late afternoon, I can still work some mom magic using my wand: the instant pot.
Crockpot: buy it here
Instant Pot: buy it here
Delicious Testimonials
I would like to introduce this as a section where I can share recipes that are, well, good enough to share. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but how can I talk about fall menu planning and never discuss actual food?
- The Essential Chile. Everyone needs a good chile recipe and I highly recommend this one. It is both sweet and spicy, just like me and it is my go-to chile. I only use ground beef and cut the jalapenos and cans of beans down to 2 each. To me, it is plenty spicy with this modification but adjust as needed based on your palate. So, so good. Top with cheese, add Fritos and this a perfect meal for cooler weather.
Chile: Recipe here
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins: True confession here. I am not a fan of pumpkin in food. Pumpkin pie is not the dessert I go for on the big day. Just not my thing. However, these muffins are incredibly good and easy to make. I am a sucker for all things cream cheese so that may have something to do with it. The pumpkin spice is not overwhelming in this recipe. So, if you, like me, are not a fan of this season’s signature spice, this recipe is a good compromise in case you are under pressure to fall in with the masses.
Muffins: Recipe here
- Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin: This is a great recipe. The only modification I make is putting it on the grill instead of in the skillet/oven. It has been great every time. I need to point out that I have very picky eaters, specifically my youngest. He loves this pork and made a point to ask for it again. So, this gets a PEP! (Picky-Eater Plug).
Pork Tenderloin: Recipe here
- Caramel Apple Sheet Cake: This is such a yummy, fall dessert that is easy to make. This combines apples and spices topped with sweet caramel icing and was delicious, hence the testimonial. Only thing we added was some vanilla ice cream.
Caramel Apple Cake: Recipe here
So now you are off to a great start with a couple of dinner recipes, a breakfast treat and yummy dessert to add into your rotation.
To be honest, this is not quite like any other traditional fall. This year, the season brings with it additional challenges and depending on the mom season you are in, those can seem amplified.
Postcards from the closet
Are you a new mom in the “Running on Empty” season trying to function on minimal sleep? Are you struggling to get the hang of nursing your little one, all the while going through these new experiences without being able to share them with family due to social distancing? I remember when I had my first. Nothing was good enough and no one could touch him unless they were immediate family and even then, they had to pass inspection. My three-month-old had monogrammed boxers. Yeah. So, I can only imagine going through this experience right now with all that is going on in the world. Just go ahead and wrap them in bubble wrap. We understand.
I used to travel all the time for work, and I was still nursing as a first-time mom during a time when I had to take several weeklong trips. As if being away from my baby was not bad enough, I had to purchase a cooler bag to transport the milk for my son back home. “Pump and dump” was not an option for a week’s worth of milk. I worked way too hard for it, ducking in and out of various “mother’s rooms,” (i.e. closets or storerooms) every few hours. Back at the airport, I approached TSA and asked them to tell me how to get through security. I had no desire to let it out of my sight so checking it was not an option. I found an agent and explained that I had way more than my allowed 3.4 ounces and I needed to know how to make this happen. She was very polite and said it was no problem and to just let the agent know what I had. They would just verify the contents and send me on my way. After sailing through security and completing the first leg of my journey, I deplaned at O’Hare for my layover. It was that time again and noticed the designated closet was in another terminal. There was no time to get there and back before boarding my second flight, so into the ladies’ room I went. Of course, I had my nursing cover, but as I sat there, up on the counter, greeting passengers as they entered, I thought, the things we do for love. One thing I will never forget was how emotional I was when my nursing came to an end. I did not expect that at all. It was totally normal for him to move on to regular milk and other foods, but it was still hard. I know the subject of nursing can be a sensitive issue for some moms in general. Let me just say that the benefits are such that I definitely think it is worth a try for your little one. However, the main point, I think is to be grateful for the various options that are available. Give thanks that your baby is fed and not hungry. That is something to celebrate. I also remember the constant struggle of knowing you should get up and do some housework but just wanting to sit and snuggle your baby. I personally think it is acceptable to have a “Welcome to the Jungle” style of housekeeping during this season. Laundry or snuggle? Everyone tells you the time will fly by and to just savor it. You should. Honestly, I tried to do at least one productive thing a day and then scooped my son up to enjoy our time the rest of the day. I have never regretted it because I know I cherished those short few months. My only other advice would be that if someone offers to watch them for a couple of hours to let you get a break, let them (provided you trust them, of course). It will be good for you, and it will make you a better mom if you take care of yourself.
A Tale of Two Moms
Maybe you are in the new daycare season. To put it bluntly, I hated this transition. No two moms are the same, so I realize we all fall in various places along this spectrum, but it was hard for me. I started crying during a tour of a daycare facility. Preemptive meltdown. It had nothing to do with not wanting to go back to work. I loved my job and missed my coworkers. Well, most of them. It also had nothing to do with the daycare we selected. They were wonderful. It was about separation anxiety for me and my son, but mostly me. I had spent all day with him playing and sleeping and eating and now someone else got to do that. It was just something I had to work through. I wanted both. I just needed a bigger cubicle at work so the pack-n-play would fit. Was that really asking so much? Truthfully, were not in a position at that time for me to stay home and like I said, I enjoyed my work so I am not sure that would have necessarily been my choice, but it was still a rough time. I did get through it and my little one benefited so much from that environment. Drop off is hard, especially if they cry. I genuinely think it is worse on us. I must take a minute to say I had wonderful help from both my mom and my mother-in-law until we were ready to send the boys to daycare. That is a wonderful option if it is available. If it is not you watching over them, grandparents can be the next best thing. I would just say, take your time. Decide when is the best time for your family to begin daycare. Take your time selecting the right place or person. Nothing helps with that anxiety like confidence in the one caring for your baby. So, whenever you take that step, just know it will be hard, but it will get easier. I will leave you with some positives. You will be amazed one day when they start singing a song they learned at daycare. You will not be able to grab your phone and hit record fast enough. They learn to play with other children and make their first little friends. Oh, and pick up. If drop off was the worst part of your day, pick up more than makes up for it. The look on their face when they see you, raising their arms or running to you with such excitement. Drop off is like a trip to the dentist, while pick up is your trip to the salon, which by the way you should take if this is the season you are in. Treat yourself.
Groundhog Day
Maybe you are in the season where some aspects of each day are exactly the same. Your little one only wants to wear one shirt. All day. Every day. Or maybe they are in a food phase. For me, I have one that really loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He went through a phase where he asked for it every day for lunch. While that is not super crazy, at some point he wanted it for breakfast and if he had his way, would eat it for dinner too. Now, he asks for it as a snack in between meals too. Do not get me wrong, I love a good PB&J, but seriously, there is so much great food out there. It could be worse, though. He could be requesting something super complicated to make. At least he is getting the major food groups, right? Bread, fruit-ish, and protein. Speaking of nutrition, below is link to a daily gummy vitamin that our boys really like in case you find yourself wondering if your child is getting enough from his or her unique dining preferences. Maybe you feel like you are in your own version of Groundhog Day because thanks to Coronavirus, your days have been annoyingly repetitive. Nowhere to go, except another room in your house. Nothing to do, except a DIY project, again, in your own house. Another interesting season, for sure. The good news is things appear to be opening back up in a lot of areas so hang in there. Even the king of PB&J now has some additions to his palate. He now loves steak, burgers, pork, turkey, and pasta. The times, they are a-changin! So, if you wake up at 6am to the 90s clock radio playing “I Got You Babe,” remember, it eventually ended for Bill Murray and it will end for you too.
Smarty Pants Organic Gummy Kids Multivitamin: buy it here
The Foo Fighters remind me that,
“It’s times like these you learn to live again
It’s times like these you give and give again
It’s times like these you learn to love again
It’s times like these time and time again.”
In each season, we learn how to live, how to give and how to love the best way we can as moms.
Time and Time again.
Eat yummy food, embrace the jungle, go to the spa, and get rid of the clock radios. Please.
