Cooking

 Parenting teenagers can feel tricky. I want the best for them and I want them to thrive and often I want them to excel which are not the same things. I know this intellectually but sometimes I just want to control the process. There is no controlling the process. 

They are big kids learning to be adults. They have to own their priorities. They have to take the steps. Of course I will continue to guide and have basic expectations around school and health and being a kind human. 

In the meantime, I cook! 

It's a wonderful place to channel love and worry. Mothers all over the world through time know this. This is nothing new. 

Instead of nagging, I will make a pot of soup. All of the nervous nitpicky energy can go into slicing carrots, and throwing diced onions into a swirl of sizzling olive oil. Our home can become cozy and welcoming. 

Who doesn't appreciate a home cooked meal?

Well, the kids actually.  Many a time. But, isn't that all of parenting. We just keep showing up and doing the thing and maybe just maybe one day they will look back and remember the smell of something on the stove and feel love, or something like it.