I seem to be the go-to house on Fridays which thrills me since I love the hustle and bustle of kids, the shrill of teenage girls and the buzzing of video games from the boys, an ideal backdrop to a week’s finale. Nothing makes me happier to hear that my daughter’s friends tweet that “Sofia’s mom makes the best food” or when I overhear that my house is the place everyone wants to hang out after school.
But don’t think I’m fooled. Sure, maybe the kids like me just a bit, but I know it’s my food that’s luring them here. Since I never know who or how many kids I’ll have on a certain day, I have to be prepared and that’s why my freezer is always filled with homemade snacks. This week when Sofia’s friend said how much she loved the chocolate chip banana muffins from last week, out came the banana chocolate chip loaf from the same batch, tucked away in the freezer for just this moment. And then when my daughter asked for some homemade pizza, I pulled out the pre-baked dough I had made a few weeks ago (with a friend of course!), added some freshly sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil and in less than fifteen minutes served the gang a gourmet pizza.
Sure, maybe it seems like I have a demanding crowd over here. And maybe I do. But it’s really not a lot of work for me to cook with various friends throughout the weeks and be armed with food to satisfy everyone’s requests. Whether there’s a pot of soup simmering on the stove, a loaf of banana bread set upon the table or a plate of cookies, I’m always glad to have kids crowding in my tiny kitchen devouring the foods I’ve made just for them. And as I’m busy at the sink cleaning dishes, I’m satisfied as I get a glimpse into the vibrant lives of my favorite kids.