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With the
hustle and bustle of the season at full throttle, it was either “fake
it” or be Scrooge when planning some holiday partying for some very
special tiny tots. Every year it's the same regret echoed from the
south side of Chicago to the North Pole. There never seems to be enough
time for doing the fun stuff like making Christmas tree cakes, made all
the more fun with four extra pairs of helping hands belonging to the
toddlers in my care.
The kitchen
table was turned into a mini sweet shop for the afternoon. The littlest
of elves knelt on chairs and patiently waited as their chaperone of
confection metered out all the necessary ingredients - a couple of cups
of flour, cocoa, a few sticks of butter, sugar, vanilla, and
pre-measured amounts of water. We were all set and ready to bake up
some Christmas magic.
It was when
I reached into the refrigerator that I remembered one important thing -
I forgot to add eggs to my holiday shopping list.
Now, how do
you burst the bubble of four, eager beaver, bakers-in-training, when
their hearts and lips are set on licking spatulas that should be
dripping with chocolate cake batter? Well, you don't.
With
Christmas carols filling the room with joy and the children in a jolly
mood, plans were slightly changed. The bowls of cake batter were set
aside, along with the Christmas tree shaped baking pans. Flour was
mixed with water, salt, and baking soda and - presto! Play dough
cookies were created. Food coloring turned the drab blobs of white
dough into a rainbow of bright cheery color.
The
children were soon elbow deep in ooey-gooey glee, and the best part for
me was watching them just be kids which, for them, meant the messier the
merrier.
We all
settled for a snack of Oreo cookies since their finished masterpieces
ended up being decorative piles of goop lying on a cookie sheet that
would never see the oven.
Eventually
the Christmas tree cakes were made and decorated with M&M's, gumdrops,
sprinkles, and icing squeezed out of a tube.
But the
fake dough cookie party proved that you don't always have to break a few
eggs to make a good omelet, or in this case, a good time.
Through the
years I've often wondered if those children, who are now old enough to
make cookies on their own, remember our little festive fiasco, and their
slightly crazy care giver.
The other
day while doing some Christmas shopping at the mall, I ran into one of
those children who spent a small part of her pre-school days with me.
Her parents and I chatted for a few minutes and then their daughter, a
stunningly beautiful high school sophomore, came walking over. She
politely said hello but, in truth, she barely remembered me. But as I
thought about that Christmas so many years ago, surrounded by the happy
faces of children who blessed my days, I realized an incredible joy.
The good
times we plan for and share with children, are the gifts we keep on
giving back to ourselves, year after year, through the memories that are
unwrapped with gratitude and love each time they are brought to mind.
Kathy
Whirity
kathywhirity @ yahoo.com
Bio
Kathy Whirity
lives in Chicago where she shares her life and love with her husband
of 30 years, Bill,and their rambunctious retriever, Hannah. Kathy is a
family life columnist for two area newspapers. |
