The Best Oatmeal Ever!

Everyday I make "ME-Tal," that is oatmeal to my 23 month old daughter, Emersyn.  I use to make it in the microwave but then I read how bad microwaves are to use, so I haven't touched mine in months.  I would line up the bowls, add the oatmeal, cover with water and nuke it for a minute and 30 seconds.  Then I would add nutritional yeast (natural B-vitamins), maple syrup, peanut butter and serve.

Now I boil three cups of water, add the 3 cups of   Quaker oatmeal and it is done quicker than my husband can make it in the microwave (when he thinks I'm taking to long).  There is something therapeutic about making food on the stove, it is somehow different than throwing it in the microwave, pushing the button, walking away from it, just incase you really can get cancer from looking into the microwave.  

When we were on vacation recently (see Greatest Vacation ) they had oatmeal but it was made with milk (see Just Another Reason) so we gave Emersyn pancakes, fruit and breakfast potatoes everyday.  She enjoyed dipping the pancakes in the syrup but when my husband said "she probably misses oatmeal," her eyes lit up and she started screaming "ME-Tal, ME-Tal, ME-tal!!" It was hysterical and scary at the same time, because there was no ME-tal to give her... pancakes and Elmo would have to work for a few more days.

When we got home she was so happy to be home to her ME-Tal. She climbed into her highchair, got an excited smile on her face, yelled "Me-Tal peeeze," and waited. 

Was it really the oatmeal that she longed for, or was it home? What is it that makes home "home" to each of us? Is it our beds, our couch, our Quaker oatmeal made with water? Maybe she was really missing me in the kitchen dancing and making ME-Tal like we do everyday? Did she just want to be home?

It's funny, Turks and Caicos was so amazing and beautiful but I missed my coffee maker and my non-dairy coconut creamer. I love my coffee and coffee maker. I love it so much that at night I get excited because I know in the morning I get to wake up and make my coffee, it is THAT great!

There are just some things that make your home irreplaceable. That no matter where you are in the world enjoying yourself, visiting family or friends, it just isn't home.  To Emersyn, it's ME-Tal, to me it is my coffee maker and creamer. Maybe it is all of it, maybe it is the dance of the morning that we all miss? The way our side of the bed feels like a warm pair of arms around us.

Is it the consistency that comes with being home and having our routine? Maybe it's the way I sing the "Don't ya make me kick your butt" song, or maybe I just make the greatest ME-Tal in the whole world..that's probably it, how many kids do you know that scream for oatmeal? Exactly!