Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Timing is Everything

Just before PurDude went off to college for the first time, he started calling me "Karen". College Boy does now and then, but PurDude does it pretty consistently.

I don't have a problem with it. It's my name, after all. Although I don't object to being called "Karen", I miss being called "Mom". I do acknowledge that he's not doing it to be disrespectful, I see it as his establishing himself as an adult. Semi-adult anyway. Either way, I get his timing.

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Every year before PurDude goes back to school we take his car to be checked out and have any repairs done. Since I had been unexpectedly in Boston for 2 weeks and arrived back in the Midwest just a week before he was to leave, the automobile check-up wasn't as well planned as usual.

Hubs and I dropped the car off at the mechanic's which was near our house but nowhere near Hubs' work. I was going to take Hubs all the way to work in his car, then drive back home and use Hubs' car for the day. PurDude would take my car to work, then after work, he was going to have to go all the way down to Hubs' work in rush hour traffic to pick him up so they could go get the car. Yikes.

I decided instead to have Hubs drop me off at home and take his own car to work. I'd have to drop PurDude off at work, then drop College Boy off at work, then pick PurDude up at work and go get his car. A pain in the ass but it inconvenienced the least number of people (ie: me).

We dropped the car off, Hubs took me home and drove to work, and at 10 am, an hour before PurDude had to be at the pool, I got a text that his car had been worked on early and was done.

PurDude and I picked the car up. It took us 10 minutes. We came back home, he showered and dressed and drove his own car to work. College Boy took mine and no one was inconvenienced (well, other than my credit card . . . but I digress). Gotta love timing.

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Around here, in fact, pretty much everywhere, I am known as the laptop jinx. So, of course, the day before PurDude left for college my laptop died (yes, again). It would not come up at all. It took PurDude a couple of hours but he fixed it. One more day and I would have been out of commission. For bad luck, it was pretty great timing.


Three Step Italian Grilled Chicken, the easiest dinner you'll ever make. Mix a few simple ingredients, marinate, grill and serve. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dinner #chicken
Three Step Grilled Italian Chicken


About a week ago that dreaded day finally came. I cooked my youngest his last homemade dinner of the summer vacation, We ate together as a family for the final time until I get him home again (98 days, but who's counting?). And as PurDude left for college the next morning, the last thing he said to me was "I love you, Mom".

He called me "Mom."

And his timing?

It was perfect.


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Three Step Grilled Italian Chicken
                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in half
3/4 cup Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes 

Directions:
*Mix together the salad dressing, olive oil, Italian seasoning, oregano and red pepper flakes. 
*Place in a gallon bag with the chicken pieces. Refrigerate overnight.
*Spray your cold grill with nonstick spray and heat to medium. Grill the chicken, turning once, until juices run clear. Should take about 10 minutes per side.

22 comments:

  1. I can certainly feel your emotion in this post but I don't get the calling you by your first name. I tried to think of anyone I knew whose grown kids did that and I could not. Is it a Midwestern trend?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, I don't know other kids here who do, but I did have a friend growing up in Boston who did. As long as he's respectful, I don't mind. He's establishing himself as an adult but he knows I'll always be mom.

      Delete
  2. Wow this sounds so easy to make and yummy. Can't wait to give this a try, Karen!

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  3. Love this recipe! Italian dressing is perfect for marinating chicken breasts. As far as my son calling me Mary instead of Mom. Nope. That wouldn't fly here in the south, so he better not, or he will stand corrected lol!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, that wouldn't fly in a lot of places, but I'm fine with it.

      As for the recipe? Simple and flavorful!

      Delete
  4. You crack me up, '98 days but who is counting'. How much you want to bet he calls you Mom again in 98 days with his spot on heart tugs to Mom! This chicken picture is gorgeous.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, he'll call me Mom again when he gets home. He pretends he doesn't but he misses me.

      Delete
  5. what's in a name? mom. karen. karen. mom. My kids call me Mom but occasionally a Penny slips out. My grandklids call me PenPen and sometimes my kids use that too. I love it all.

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    Replies
    1. I think some people consider it a matter of respect, I know my mom's generation does. I just don't see it that way.

      Delete
  6. I like that if mom is the only one inconvenienced, that is considered the "least number of people"! Story of my life! Chicken looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, story of my life too, but the truth is that they all work and I don't so that makes me easier to inconvenience . . .

      Delete
  7. I love you, Mom? I'm still waiting for that one and my son is 26 (I do know he loves me, though. He doesn't even mind if I kiss his cheek in public.) And that picture of the chicken has my stomach growling big time. Of course, suppertime is still an hour away....Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, whether they say it or not (especially boys), we know they love us.

      Delete
  8. Yummy recipe! And names here in the south are very important. Sir and ma'am. Uncle and Aunt. All signs of respect. I'm sure that's an interesting situation to be in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, there's a little more formality in the south. And you're right, it's all about respect.

      Delete
  9. That last bit made me cry! Great timing!

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  10. I have never called my mum or dad by there first name, to me it is disrespectful but that is just me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know people who feel that way too. For me, I think you can tell when someone's being disrespectful and I know PurDude doesn't mean it that way.

      Delete
  11. This chicken sounds AMAZING. YUM. YUM. YUM.

    As for this post... You mean a day will come when Gigi calls me Jules?!?! *sniffles*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She may or may not, not all kids go through the first name thing. We'll see . . .

      Delete

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