Valentines
Every year, I make these soft sugar cookies, along with a few shades of cream cheese icing. I put a few together for my family to “discover” as their VDay treats. Even though they see me prepping everything, they play surprised because they know it gifts me their smiles. I then leave a bunch plain for MK to have fun decorating, because who doesn’t like craft time when it ends in edible treats? It’s not something I knowingly plan-ahead for, and have in my mind as a yearly holiday tradition. It’s more akin to an inherent migration, that kind of takes over one’s mind and body.
I forget every year that Valentine’s Day is the next day, until you guessed, the night prior. Then sure as shit, cue me making a double batch of dough at 8pm. If you’ve ever been in a household where a young kid resides, you know that is the time window when bedtime has gripped the entire household’s chill modes of operation. I never knew until I became a parent that: brushing teeth and cleaning ones body, changing in to pajamas and reading a book, saying goodnight and trading hugs and kisses and getting the covers and stuffed animals and pillows JUST SO, was a whole situation. In the movies it’s like one parent who says, “oh pardon me, I’m going to pop out to tuck my kiddo in; brb in literally ten seconds”. That’s not real, y’all. I’m over here just handing out these free PSAs, in the event you might also have a young kid to care for sometime, AND you also hadn’t spent much time with young kids before you and your lover are fully in charge of managing one/some. So, this year, I made the cookies in to bars instead of laboriously chilled/rolled out/chilled again shapes. We all have our effs-to-give lines we can’t cross, ok.
This past weekend was filled with some not great things: a surprise stomach virus for MK, dealing with cleanups from aforementioned virus before dawn for AK and I, me accidentally plunging a pair of kitchen shears in to what I’ve now learned is my most used finger (right-hand pointer for those who are curious), AK scaling the 30 foot ladder to install vent caps for future rook-leak prevention, and a few additional emotional thumbs downers. By the time Sunday late afternoon rolled around, we were all three feeling… pretty snippy from disappointments.
It sucks when the weekend is a surprise bust, since the start of each one seems so loaded with joyus potential. But, unwanted barfs, bloody fingers and emotional upsets aside… we still made it to the other side… and, we even managed to share a few laughs. So, even when life can feel like the literal shits, its nice to look around and see their darling faces. It’s really wild how much/deeply one can love. Wishing you a great Valentine’s Day, a healthy digestive situation, and three cheers to a better next-weekend for all of us.
