Kelly is a writer, photographer, foodie, marathoner & mom. She writes life stories, recipes and love of sports on Mom Got Blog and has a new food blog called Eat Picks sharing photography & good eats. Find her on Twitter @Kpugs or connect on Facebook.
There are two things I tend to do when stressed- I clean like a madwoman or I bake as if I am preparing to feed an army. Lately, I’ve been moving methodically through cabinets and have made so many confections that I have had to throw away whole cakes because this house just can’t eat that much sweet.
Why am I stressed?
A loaded question for sure.
For starters, I am freaking out a little about the goings on in Washington DC and the (what seem to be inevitable) government furloughs that will be taking effect. Okay, by the looks of my newly scrubbed and organized spice cabinet, I’m freaking out a lot. My husband falls into this plan being an employee of good old Uncle Sam and facing a 20% cut in pay to a one-income family (I do get paid for my freelance work, but it is mere pittance compared to hubs salary) will most certainly add pain to the pinch we will be facing.
Oh, and did I mention that we are about to send our oldest off to college this fall? Yeah, the timing of this is just plain bad.
And that college bound student? They are driving me b-a-n-a-n-a-s.
If I hear the phrase “When I’m in college, you won’t know fill in the blank”, one more time, I’m going to lose it.
They are ready to fly the nest and sad to admit, some days I’m ready to add a nudge to push them out. This of course makes me feel completely guilty, for I should be cherishing these last few months we have them safe under our roof. They are about to become an adult, with full voting rights and all, but I can’t seem to get through that ‘House Rules’ need to be respected no matter what age you are and more importantly, we, your parents, created these rules not to control, but to guide and set safe boundaries.
It has been a constant battle of wills and has me hitting the kitchen to bake away my feelings. The process of following each step of a recipe, where ingredients come together without argument, heck even taking out my frustration through beating eggs is met with a “thank you sir, may I have another” ( a total college flick ‘Animal House’ reference there) is cathartic.
So, six months from now, my house will be so clean that Intel will be knocking down my door for a new place to make computer chips, solving any money worries I have or I could very well be knee deep in chocolate chips preparing them for care packages. Either way, I hope to be stress free and reporting that I have survived sending one off to college, because in two years, I get to do it all over again.
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I have a 20 year old under my roof who seems to think because he was living elsewhere once he can come here and do as he pleases. Had he not still been calling me for every fart and showed some common sense, that I know we taught him, I would not have an issue. But he doesn’t so I do. I hear ya mom. I will come over and share some of the desserts. I don’t need them but they really shouldn’t go to waste.
Oh, I’m not sure I could handle the “come back”! haha!
Yes, please share some of these sweets…it breaks my heart to throw them away! 😉
Oh my sweet friend … its a good thing we spend hours on the phone right now because my ass would not thank you in the long run should we be side by side. YOU will make it thro this, and then WE are heading on a trip – something glorious with sun and many cocktails – and maybe a uber cute pool boy xxxx
Now, THAT is a plan!!!! I could really use a bit of warm sun, cool cocktails & giggled with you my dear friend!
xoxo
Honestly, I am jealous of your stress habits. They are productive—that’s a good thing—no an awesome thing! (My mom did the exact same things when stressed out. Wish I’d inherited those habits.) The whole budget cut things totally sucks. We are single income too, and I felt your pain last year when my hub’s state employee job was cut. Things worked out in the end (as I think they will for the federal employees as well) but the stress about killed me. Hang in there!!
State govt, fed govt; it’s all dysfunctional! Glad to hear it worked out for you- I will cross my fingers we will have same outcome. 🙂
As long as I don’t break out the toothbrush for scrubbing (it’s been known to happen!) we should be good. If not, do you like chocolate chip cookies? 😉
Yes everything in Washington is a big mess right now and that is a huge paycut!
If you want to send any of your stress goodies my way I will happily help take care of them 🙂
So very true about Washington. Too much hot air.
I will most certainly have goodies!!
I cook and bake when I am stressed out. Some days I’m amazed that I’ve managed to make so many things. There really is something stress releiving about ingrediants coming together and behaving. Good luck with everything.
It is relaxing, isn’t it? It’s a sense of control and accomplishment all rolled into one. So glad to hear I’m not the only one! 🙂
I wish I cleaned when I am stressed. My house would be spotless. I have a freshman and I find myself wishing these years away so that he is in college because it’s been so stressful with him and his poor choices or desire to be completely independent but I know that when he actually goes away, I am going to be a mess missing him. It’s a no win situation. Glad to know I am not alone.
This age is so incredibly hard. It’s exhausting to have the same arguements over and over… they think they know everything…our words of advice go unheeded because we’re old and don’t get it. They can’t grasp that yes, we’ve been through this before….
sigh. I wish you luck too…and yes, I’m ready to pack the college bags, but I will miss them terribly!
Kelly, two things we have in common… cleaning and cooking when stressed or upset. I do it too. I usually do my best cleaning when I’m stressed out and upset about something. I hope, all goes well with sending your oldest off to college – for all involved. I’m getting ready to send my youngest to preschool this year and just thinking of it makes me break out in hives – my baby is a baby no more. Wah! 🙂
Me too! I remember preschool…such a fun time! It will be hard, but you will really enjoy this phase… 🙂
Throw it AWAY???????!!!!!!! I’ve taken a very long deep breath. Wait. Taking one more. Okay… I have calmed down just a bit. Don’t EVER EVER EVER throw AWAY home baked SWEETS EVER!!!!!!!! I don’t remember anything else you wrote… you lost me there. 😉
Hahaha!!! Your comment made my day! I hated even typing that I throw out baked goods, but it’s sadly true!!! I can only eat so many pieces of chocoalte cake before I don’t want any more! haha!
I decided to respond to you via my eatpicks site so that I could include a cookie recipe….this I’m happy to say did not last long enough to get tossed! Try them, Hopefully that will make up for deep sadness I caused you. 😉
Oh yikes! What misery! Please come and be stressed at my house because I can NEVER seem to get my act together.
((hugs)) I have to admit my children are so far from college age (12, 10 and 3) but I have been fantasizing about them heading off, counting down even. Wish I had your stress coping techniques. This house could do with a good clean.
You need to find someplace to donate the excess baked goods when you go into overdrive. like a children’s home. 😀