Breakfast of Champions

I make breakfast for my children.

That may not sound like something to brag about, but you should know that it's a new thing for me. I've never been able to do it before. Our schedules used to be such that I left for work while they were still asleep. Now that they've gotten older their schools start earlier, which means I can actually send them off with a good meal to start the day.

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had nothing to do with the food my children either were or were not eating for breakfast, other than purchasing whatever product they decided would be something they would actually eat. It was, in this poor way of mine, a way to ensure my children got some sort of breakfast before being thrown to the rigors of a day of learning.

Oh, I had a great excuse. Their father was still at work and wouldn't arrive until after I left to go to my job, so I entrusted the preparation of their breakfast to him. Unfortunately, he didn't always get home in time to make the morning meal, so the kids ended up fending for themselves. To make sure they had something available that required little or no use of the stove, I stocked up on several different products. Cereal, granola bars, breakfast cookies, etc.

When I cleaned out and reorganized the pantry this weekend, I devoted one shelf entirely to breakfast items for the kids. Now they can see what there is to eat on the days I'm too lazy to get up in time to fix their breakfast, and hopefully get rid of all this junk.



Here in the Singer home we are All About the Healthy Breakfast Food, as is evidenced by the plethora of Oatmeal Products we purchase for consumption at the morning meal. Of course, the large amount of oatmeal is second only to the extreme amount of sugar contained in each and every one of these products. Which doesn't count the Pop Tarts. Because, as we all know, Pop Tarts are PURE sugar...and cardboard. We are nothing in the Singer household if not sweet.

Since I've been making breakfast though, the children have been spoiled. These "token foods" are no longer good enough. Nowadays we have pancakes, omelets, French toast, and other things that normal families eat. We have become the Cleavers in this regard, although I have refused to serve boiled eggs in those little cups that June had. I seriously wonder if my kids even know what those are.

All this is to say that God has been good to me in this regard. Because I now get up at 5:45 instead of 7 a.m., I am able to provide my children with a better breakfast than they were ever able to have before. Not only that, but a prayer of mine has been answered in the process.

I've been searching for a way to get closer to my children. At almost 13 and 15, I don't have much time left before they leave home for good. And when they leave home, I want them to remember something good about me. Not that I was the constantly nagging mom who always wanted them to clean their rooms or do the dishes, but something more. Something personal. In getting up in time to make their breakfast, I've found that.

It's in the morning when the day is new that we can sit down together and talk. We can discuss the day ahead or the day past. We can plan. We can find out more about each other, and do it without the tiredness and stress that seem to come later in the day. We can see each other with new eyes, unbiased by chores left undone, homework to finish, or the weariness of the world we seem to carry on our shoulders. We can love each other without anger.

I think God came up with this time just for me. Just to answer my prayer. Just to give me the desire of my heart. And what a wonderful gift it is! To be able to converse with a teenager without the rolling eyes or attitude which seems to be germain to the species is something to be treasured.

Even if you lose a little sleep.

Thanks, God.

Lamentations 3:22
God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. (The Message)