CurrentMom

Graduation Day

Truth Thursday

 

I get frustrated when I open a Huff Post parenting tidbit and find that it is, once again, targeted to parents of young children. There are so rarely essays, blogs, books dedicated to one’s life as the parent of a teen (or two or three.) You can read about how to get your child into college, but you can’t read about how to process the concurrent joy and grief that accompanies living with a high school senior for whom breathing the same air as you is painful.

So, in response to the latest HuffPo maudlin top ten list – “20 Things Every Parent Should Hear” – I offer you my thoughts on “15 Things To Remember on High School Graduation Day.”

This is for me and my son, almost 18, and graduating from high school on Monday.

 

Sylvie's Omelet -- Perfect Weekend Lunch

Meal Monday

My daughter is becoming increasingly capable in the kitchen and today, not quite a Sunday, but close enough, she asked to make an omelet for lunch for all four of us. It was delicious, made use of what we happened to have in the refrigerator, and very satisfying. Especially because she was the chef.

See what you think (variations encouraged):

Sylvie's Omelet

8 eggs

1/2 tsp seasoned salt

fresh ground pepper

splash of milk

3/4 cup diced cooked chicken, seasoned with thyme

1/2 cup diced tomatoes

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Whisk eggs, milk, seasoned salt and pepper until foamy

2. Warm a frying pan over medium low heat; add a pat of butter

3. Once butter is melted, pour egg mixture into pan and let set until mostly cooked -- about 6 - 8 minutes

4. Add chicken and tomatoes in center of egg mixture, sprinkle with cheese.

5. When omelet is mostly dry (cooked), fold in half and finish cooking.

6. Serve hot.

 

 

Return to Zero - An important movie and a request for your help

Truth Thursday

Dear Friends, Family and Current Mom readers,

This is a request, but not for money – please keep reading to see how you can help.

As most of you know, I am a storyteller. There is one story I have told many times over in the past 15 years, which is among the saddest stories of my life.

I had a baby son. His name was Ari Joshua Stern. He was born on March 5, 1998, and he died on March 10, 1998.  The four months I spent on bed rest leading up to his birth and the many months and years I have spent mourning, grieving and trying to give voice to that experience have been one of the defining pieces of my life.  

A few months ago, I was reading a blog and it had a link to something that caught my eye – a movie that was being made called “Return to Zero.” It stars Minnie Driver, Paul Adelstein, Alfred Molina and Kathy Baker in a story about a couple facing a stillbirth. It is, according to the filmmakers, the first film ever made about stillbirth and its effects on those who go through it. 

Although my birth and neonatal death experience was slightly different, I was still so moved that this film was being made that I joined a Kickstarter campaign to help the filmmakers finish their work and submit the movie to festivals.

I contributed financially to make “Return to Zero” a reality because I know how hard it is to tell these stories. I know how important it is to tell these stories. And I know how hard it is to hear these stories.

But I have long been dedicated to telling my story because it helps me heal, and it helps the world understand how better to respond. 

I decided to take my contribution one step farther, and I have just signed up to be a Local Leader in the “Return to Zero” Kickstarter campaign. 

The F Word

Truth Thursday

It’s not what you think, although I am a renowned potty mouth.

And it’s not even what I’ve written about before in many ways – feminism. Although it is in some ways.

It’s about self esteem. It’s about being self conscious. It’s about life, and love, and what I wore.

It’s about being … fat.

I had been thinking about writing this even before the latest skirmish in the fat wars.  Not the "obesity” wars, which are all about keeping our children healthy, Michelle Obama, the war on food insecurity and food deserts, economic privilege and social gaps – all guised in the mantra that we are trying to be more healthy as a nation.

No, the fat wars. In which one complete and total bully, who is 61-years-old and still hasn’t figured out that words hurt, or that being the tallest, the skinniest, the most beautiful is not what our children should be striving for in this world, has decided that his clothing should not be modeled by anyone over a size Medium.

This is what Abercrombie CEO Mark Jeffries has said about his stores:  “We go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong.”

In other words, no one fat. No one who needs a Large or, god forbid, and Extra Large size. You will not find them at Abercrombie. He has been quoted as saying that he doesn't want fat chicks shopping in his store. Really.

Paola's Tiramisu -- Brava!

Meal Monday

My friend Paola is an amazing cook. She is from Naples and manages to whip up Neapolitan specialities the way I make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That is, she is dazzling in the kitchen. Last night, after a delicious meal that she served to 16 people (!), she offered this homemade tiramisu. She rattled this recipe off of the top of her head (with her daughter chiming in). There are raw eggs in here, so either live dangerously, or use a substitute, but make this!

Paola's Tiramisu

1 lb mascarpone, softened (room temperature)

5 egg yolks

1 egg white

scant cup of sugar

36 lady fingers

1 1/2 cups espresso (regular or decaf)

Sweetened cocoa powder

 

1. Cream egg yolks and sugar in an electric mixer

2. Add cheese and mix by hand until combined

3. Beat egg white until stiff and glossy

4. Fold in egg white to mixture

5. Dip lady fingers in the espresso 

6. Alternate layers of espresso'd lady fingers and mascarpone mix in pan until finished, mixture should be on top

7. Sprinkle with sweetened cocoa powder.