The Inevitable Cupcake Post
There’s a post coming. A big one. I just have to decide f I’m going to make use of Wordpress’ nifty password protect feature or not before I publish it. And I can’t really think about that until I get the damn cupcakes ready for tomorrow.
Yep, it’s that time of year again when I dust off my mixing bowl (literally) and track down the muffin tins–the drawer thingy under the stove seems such an organic place, I can’t believe I didn’t think of looking there before I tore my entire kitchen apart–and preheat my oven.
Between tonight’s school Christmas concert, the sisyphean task of readying the house for Diva Girl’s birthday sleepover party, and the aforementioned but as yet unposted drama, I was less inclined than usual to do the ritual baking (and I think we all know that I’m never inclined to bake). But bake we did; as I write this 48 mini chocolate cupcakes all iced and decorated with not one but two Smarties a piece are sitting amid the debris on my kitchen counter just waiting for me to figure out exactly how they’re going to travel on the school bus without becoming one giant smooshy mess.
Much though I dread this annual event and grumble about it, it’s comforting I suppose, to have the rituals. Even the ritual complaining. Sometimes, when this motherhood thing leaves you feeling like you’re rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, or maybe already in the soup, the rituals are all we have to cling to. Those moments of stability inside the swirling chaos.
I know that while I don’t remember every brutal moment of my own growing up, I do remember that I had cupcakes to take to school for every birthday. I’m hoping that when all is said and done, Diva Girl has that same experience. That along with the battles both big and small that we waged on the way to her adulthood, that in spite of the myriad ways I let her down over the years, that no matter how hard it got, that one of the things that stands out for her is that there were always cupcakes, even when I didn’t feel like baking them.
Comment by Lady M
There are always cupcakes - that’s a good memory.
A couple of years ago, I bought a large flat tupperware to bring cupcakes to a party. I thought it would kind of be a waste of money for one use, but it was *really* important that they arrive in good shape to this one particular party. I’ve actually ended up using the box quite a bit, so I guess it was worth it! It would be harder if you couldn’t count on the box making its way back from school though.
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 12:10 am
Comment by Leslie
I still remember my mom’s brownies for my b-day. Mainly b/c I hate brownies, but it was her best dish, so I pretended to love them.
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 1:34 am
Comment by verybadcat
My husband loves cupcakes. Adores. Says “cupcakes are a little cake you can hold in your hand”.
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 8:21 am
Comment by Jeni T
I don’t have many good childhood memories but one of the best is that my mom always made peanut butter cookies & topped them w/ the same number of m&m’s that I was old that year. I’m sure that Diva Girl will remember this & other great memories!
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Comment by bubandpie
Are you thinking about password-protecting your entire blog, or just the one post?
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Comment by Stacey
You can bake things to take to school? I wish we could do that!!! Hope all is well - sounds like maybe not, but I just wanted to comment that I’ve been reading and sending you good thoughts.
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Comment by Cait
Happy Birthday, Diva Girl!
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Comment by Meesha
If you password protect, will we need to email you for it?
Cheers from a long-time reader
Posted on December 14, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Comment by landismom
Happy Birthday, D-G! Hope the cupcakes arrived in an un-smooshed state.
Posted on December 16, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Comment by Joanna
I’m a long time reader (following you from I-Village). I’m finally delurking. My mom never had to deal with the cupcakes for school thing (I was a summer baby), but I longed for the days when she would. I think you should be proud of yourself for going through this for Diva Girl’s birthday. She’ll appreciate it.
Posted on December 19, 2007 at 10:53 am