Even though my kids do not get me. My own kids. Loved and
Granted my sense of humor is dry, sarcastic and often facetious, but it’s not like they haven’t known me their whole lives. At some point you catch on, right?
This must be some kind of divine punishment. I must have done something horrendous in a former life. Did I bear false witness against my neighbor? Tell the emperor he had no clothes? Design the shoulder pads?
I’ve got one son who not only doesn’t read social cues but is totally concrete and literal. I used to tell my friends that if I told him to sit at his desk and not get up until his homework was done and the house crashed down around him, when the dust had cleared he’d still be sitting at that desk finishing up his homework.
You see why I never say “someone shoot me, please.”
And the other son? Well, how can he think I’m funny when he’s never listed to anything I say. Ever. And that’s not sarcasm, that’s straight up truth.
I write a sort of-semi-sometimes-kinda funny humor blog. Of course my boys don’t read it. When I first started writing it I’d bribe them with baked goods. But it didn’t take them long to realize that they could eat the treats and just not read the blog. Guess the joke’s on me.
But obviously I think a sense of humor is important. I’ve learned that it’s much more functional as a life strategy than pulling the covers over my head and never getting out of bed again.
So I tried really hard to teach a sense of humor by showing my sense of humor.
When kids go on play dates, parents always admonish: “now be good” to their kids as they walk out the door. I’d always say “now be as naughty as you can, get it all out of your system before you come home.” And then I’d run. Possibly kicking my heels up in joy on my way out.
When at home during the day if the boys would cry, something that makes every mom crazy, I used to say to them “Hey, no crying. You know crying is for restaurants.”
If I made a new cookie and the kids asked what kind they were just before putting them in their mouths I’d say “Oh, it’s something new, hope you like it, it’s a spinach and mustard cookie.” Yeah, no one thought that was funny. Well, except me. I did. But then I get me.
Sweet Potato Pineapple Gratin
Sweet Potato Pineapple Gratin in the oven
I’m a Bostonian living in the Midwest. My kids were born here. When they were in high school whenever they’d talk about where they wanted to go to college and especially if they’d mention local schools I’d always say: “You’re going to college in Boston, bother your Grammy for a few years.”
One of my favorites, one that I still use today (well, we’ve outgrown play dates and crying in restaurants) is my favorite. I’d say to the boys, usually in a conversation at the dinner table when they were discouraged about something and I wanted them to feel supported: “Just remember that I love you. That dad guy doesn’t much care for you but I love you.”
See, I’m funny, dammit.
You get me, right?
Someone?
Anyone?
Sweet Potato Pineapple Gratin
©www.BakingInATornado.com Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
3 sweet potatoes
½ stick butter
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
2 TBSP pineapple juice (reserved from the crushed pineapple)
2 TBSP maple syrup
2 TBSP brown sugar
1/8 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne
1 cup chopped pecans
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 X 13 baking pan with non-stick spray.
*Drain the pineapple being sure to reserve 2 TBSP of the juice.
*Melt the butter. Mix in the reserved pineapple juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, cumin and cayenne.
*Peel the sweet potatoes and slice into approximately 1/4 inch slices.
*Evenly spread out one half of the sweet potatoes onto the bottom of the prepared pan.
*Sprinkle with salt and pepper, top with all of the crushed pineapple then half of the pecans.
*Pour half of the butter mixture over the pineapples.
*Layer with the other half of the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and top with the rest of the pecans.
*Pour the rest of the butter mixture over the top. Cover with tin foil and bake for one hour or until the sweet potatoes and tender.
Ah~ but when you least expect it, they will "get" you and you may discover that one, if not both have your flair for sarcasm and they will decide to use it at the worst time imaginable. When that happens, while you may cringe on the outside, inside you are grinning from ear to ear and are so proud~ Trust me on this one. It does happen
ReplyDeleteOh they use it, they just don't think it's funny when I do. {{sigh}}.
DeleteUgh! That must be so frustrating! My kids dole out the sarcasm and funny burns like experts now. My daughter got a good one on my husband this weekend and I almost drove off the road I was laughing so hard!
ReplyDeleteYeah, my kids can dole it out too. They just don't think it's funny when their old embarrassing mama does.
DeleteI total get you and think you are HILARIOUS!!!!! But then, my kids don't get me either. SIGH... I get groaned at.
ReplyDeleteYou get groans, I get eyerolls, what's the matter with kids these days?
DeleteI hear you! My Mr13 will just stare blankly at me sometimes, forcing me to ask "don't you get it?"
ReplyDelete"Yeah" he says, "it's just not funny."
Sigh, I'll be in the kitchen.....
Yes, exactly why I spend so much time in the kitchen.
DeleteDamn you are funny, many of your post crack me up and you share some bloody interesting recipes.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Just what I needed to hear.
DeleteYou totally crack me up...humor is so important in life and one day they will pass that on to their own kids..
ReplyDeleteOMG to the Sweet Potato Pineapple Gratin...Holding out my plate
Yes, humor is important without a doubt but I sure wish they didn't think mine was lame.
DeleteYou have to try this recipe, you'll love it!
I think you are very funny! Recipe sounds gooey good. Are the boys in college in Boston?
ReplyDeleteOf course they're not in college in Boston. When have they ever done what I wanted?
DeleteI get you. That's some funny stuff!
ReplyDeleteNo wonder I'm so much happier on the interwebs. You guys get me!
DeleteMy hubby has the driest-Sahara dry here-sense of humor. Although I find it hilarious it goes over so many people's heads. But those who get it...I find I adore.
ReplyDeleteWe get you and adore your humor. Those boys of yours will eventually....or they might think they're funny by staying stoic and pretending they're not laughing on the inside... 😉
Yes, they get me but they think they're funny by pretending they don't. I'm going with that one.
Delete