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Monday, October 27, 2008

Sunday's Simple Pleasures

Lately I've been feeling a little off.   There has just been a general malaise about my days.  I snap at the kids more often, I can't get really excited about cooking (and I love to cook), it takes me forever to answer e-mails, my house is a mess, little set backs annoy me more than usual.  There isn't any one big thing that has thrown a wrench in my ability to feel upbeat, but rather lots and lots of little things that add up to a big pile of crap.  

I keep saying my kids have been giving me a hard time lately.  But I am not really sure that's true.  Is it them giving me a hard time, or me having less patience?  I'm not excited about doing crafts with them, not excited about trick or treating, not excited to let them help me cook, not excited to play "shopkeeper" or whatever role they want me to play in their made up games.  I've been a not so fantastic mom lately, and they deserve better.  


They really, really do.  My kids are bright, imaginative and they crack me up.  So I am giving myself a slap in the face.  Smack!  Snap the heck out of it.   I mean Halloween is Friday people!  Can you say Snickers! and Tootsie Rolls! and Lollipops! and hopefully 100Grands and Rolos!!!!!!  All I have to do is dress my kids up and follow them around the neighborhood and they collect CANDY.  It's not just the upcoming candy windfall, I have so many things to be happy about and thankful for.  I mean just look at those faces.  

So I am starting a regular feature here in the Candy Cane Forest.  I call it "Sunday's Simple Pleasures."  Every Sunday I'll bring you something that makes me happy.  I know today is Monday, and most of you will probably read this on Tuesday.  But whatever... it will usually be on Sunday.  

This week I give you my little green teapot.


Every morning I boil some water and fill my little teapot with these tea leaves from the Indian grocery.


I let it steep for a few minutes then pour myself a cup with a splash of half and half.  Regular milk is an OK substitute, but half and half is my guilty pleasure.  I love to feel the hot, ceramic mug in my hands and that first, creamy sip is heaven.  Sometimes I only manage a couple of sips before it gets cold.  Sometimes I have time to reheat it, sometimes I don't.  Sometimes I have just a half a cup, sometimes I have three.  I could probably survive without my morning cup of tea, but I very rarely go without it.

So simple and yet my lovely little green teapot is as essential to my morning routine as brushing my teeth.  It makes me happy.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Since I love tea as well, I need to get my hands on a sample of your favorite tea. Give some details......
Saved by Grace

Marinka said...

I think you're being too hard on yourself. We all go through slumps, parenting and otherwise. Unless we take quaaludes. mmm...quaaludes! Talk about simple pleasures!

;)

Kate Coveny Hood said...

I love your teapot and I think that your idea for a Sunday feature is lovely. And you're making me feel really gross about my morning diet coke "ritual." I should really switch to tea - so much more civilized.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! Its so easy to focus on big things and miss the little things that bring so much joy.

Don't beat yourself up, though. You're a great mom. Everyone goes through slumps, the important thing is realizing you'll get through it.

Anonymous said...

There is something very comforting about the morning ritual of making tea! Tea India is definitely the best.

I think it's hard, as a SAHM, to be "on" all the time. It's tiring and easy to burn out. Whenever I go through these phases where nothing excites me about my "job", I just think back to when I was growing up - I don't think my mom felt nearly the same pressure to keep doing stuff with us. Just let it be until you feel like doing your usual stuff again - nobody died from a messy house or a lack of excitement from Halloween!

Anonymous said...

Ow! I see a big hand mark on your face where you slapped it!
I agree. Don't be hard on yourself. We all go through stages, and anyhow, your kids don't look like they are lacking in love...

BTW I love your teapot! It's the perfect color!

Maura said...

Adorable tea pot, great ritual, fantastic idea to highlight your favorite things. Like they say, simple joys are often the best.

I have to echo the others above: Don't be too hard on yourself. You're a mom and wife, yes, but you're also a woman and we're allowed to have times when we're not at our peak. (Men, too, but this isn't about them!) Sometimes we're all striving for happiness a little harder than at other times; this seems like one of those times for you.

Try to drink in a little peace with your tea each morning. :-)

anymommy said...

This was such a lovely glimpse into your morning. I agree with everyone that you should be kind to yourself, but I do know how you are feeling.

I'm joining you tomorrow morning okay? Lol. I think (hope) that would put us both in a good frame of mind for the day.

Anonymous said...

a little gratitude goes a long way! I am trying to do same.