It was my hubby’s birthday.
As his birthday was on a weekday, I didn’t make an elaborate plan for celebrations. I thought I’d cook his favorite dinner and then open presents and eat together.
So I got to work. I got a big bundle of carrots to make carrot halwa (an Indian pudding). I shredded the carrots, cooked, and also got the dinner ready.
With the food ready, the next step was wrapping the presents.
I thought it would be exciting if my hubby had to hunt for his presents. So I came up with a scavenger hunt that kids and hubby can do together. Thanks to the ideas on Pinterest! (And talk about not having elaborate plans!)
After all the cooking and writing scavenger hunt clues, I celebrated my accomplishment with a spicy hot chai and headed to school to pick-up my kids.
My eight-year-old was unusually excited.“I am baking a double-layered chocolate cake for Papa’s birthday today,” he declared with an unfailing conviction.
What! I almost collapsed thinking of the amount of work double-layer would entail.
I can’t even bake a single-layered cake properly.
Uff, More work!
My mind was busy manufacturing these energy depleting thoughts.
So I tried to dissuade my son from his over-ambitious baking idea.
“Why do you want to bake a double-layered cake today?” I said, “Let’s do it over the weekend.”
I thought if he delays his ambitious baking plans to the weekend, he’ll probably forget about it, and I won’t have to deal with the mess afterward.
But before long, he looked up the recipe on my phone and declared, “I’m making this one.”
He was adamant about baking the double-layered cake. So, I thought of a middle path. “Okay, let’s make a single-layered chocolate cake,” I said.
“Nope,” he said, “And I can bake all by myself.”
I reluctantly gave in to his enthusiasm, knowing very well what all by myself meant.
At home, while gathering the ingredients, I once again tried to talk him out of his plan to bake. But, to his credit, my son didn’t budge.
So ultimately, we baked a double-layered chocolate cake that was the most delicious thing on this planet; moist and chocolaty.
My son beamed with pride, and my husband was extremely touched.
Though I was super proud of my son’s achievement, I can’t forget that I tried to discourage him. I did my best to burst his bubble, imagining the difficulty and the after mess of baking, based on my experiences.
But my son not only baked the double-layered cake but also helped in the clean-up. So none of my apprehensions were true.
And this is precisely what Rachel Macy Stafford https://www.handsfreemama.com/about-me/ said in one of her posts. I was glad to read her article and realize that she was spot on. And most importantly, I was happy that I’m not the only bubble-bursting mom.
But the good thing are the second chances this universe often offers. And, when I’ll get one I know I’ll make sure to hold my bubble-bursting thoughts, and not repeat the same parenting mistake.
Are you a bubble-bursting parent?
Featured Photo by Austin Neill on Unsplash
Hey Harshita
It was a delight to read your article..rather a rich experience as a parent.
It’s so amazing, the little one doing all the works all by himself! And as a mom, you keep all the patience to let him experiment and show his love for his dad and also grow confident in handling the stuff… I m sure all of it would have boosted his self-esteem.
Keep sharing, it is heartwarming to read your anecdotes.
My kids are older…ones graduated and the other on the anvil… And life continues to present such situations…..have usually ‘held’ the bubble bursters in check and usually, happy we did! :+)
Good to read you, harshita! Keep writing. :+)
Thank you, Sameer, for visiting my blog. It must be satisfying you kept your bubble bursters in check- that’s good parenting!