For birthdays growing up, my mom let my brother and I pick whatever dinner and dessert we wanted and she'd make it for us. My brother and I always picked lasagna and lemon meringue pie. We didn't do birthday parties or even many gifts. The birthday dinner was the highlight of the day, more so because Mom made it from scratch. It was special because of the love she put into it (and also quite frankly, she made the best lasagna and lemon meringue pies ever).
When I got married, I refused to make my own birthday dessert (see Mom, you spoiled me). After several years, DH got brave enough to make the lemon meringue pie. He made it faithfully for years...each year the end result was more presentable than the year before. But I didn't care how it looked, what mattered was the fact that he took the time to make it and put some love into it too.
I don't think that DH has made a birthday pie for me since we all went gluten free. He talked about tackling it this year - but you can't make a lemon meringue pie without eggs. I couldn't imagine wanting anything else until recently when blueberries and blackberries went on sale...and I decided that a birthday berry cobbler would be fabulous. So that's what he made me. And it may be one of the best birthday desserts ever...because he cared enough to make it, and everybody can enjoy it. Now all I need to do is secure a birthday dinner too!
As an aside, I thought it would be traumatic to turn 37...but it's not. I'm actually feeling really good about being in my own skin, being me. The gray hairs, the laugh lines, the pregnancy battle scars (stretch marks, or as DH likes to call them, racing stripes), the ADHD...it all feels good. I feel confident in a way I have not before. I don't know what next year will bring, but I think this year will be good.
When I got married, I refused to make my own birthday dessert (see Mom, you spoiled me). After several years, DH got brave enough to make the lemon meringue pie. He made it faithfully for years...each year the end result was more presentable than the year before. But I didn't care how it looked, what mattered was the fact that he took the time to make it and put some love into it too.
I don't think that DH has made a birthday pie for me since we all went gluten free. He talked about tackling it this year - but you can't make a lemon meringue pie without eggs. I couldn't imagine wanting anything else until recently when blueberries and blackberries went on sale...and I decided that a birthday berry cobbler would be fabulous. So that's what he made me. And it may be one of the best birthday desserts ever...because he cared enough to make it, and everybody can enjoy it. Now all I need to do is secure a birthday dinner too!
As an aside, I thought it would be traumatic to turn 37...but it's not. I'm actually feeling really good about being in my own skin, being me. The gray hairs, the laugh lines, the pregnancy battle scars (stretch marks, or as DH likes to call them, racing stripes), the ADHD...it all feels good. I feel confident in a way I have not before. I don't know what next year will bring, but I think this year will be good.
3 comments:
Happy birthday! That was so sweet of your husband to make you dessert. My mom always did the dinner/dessert thing too and we also didn't do presents or parties except a few special birthdays.
Happy Birthday Erin! :) How sweet is that? My DH is terrified in the kitchen - so bless your DH`s heart! I too did the same as your mom for our kids growing up - still do even though they are young adults living on their own. It is just a tradition that lives on and one we all love!!
Thanks guys! :) I love the dinner/dessert tradition. This year I'm going to introduce it to the girls.
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