Humble pie
Wednesday, Jan 4, 2006
Having kids will keep a mother humble. Just recently, I set the table for dinner and decided to add a little flair with a few candles. My family is special, and I enjoy showing them so. I lit a few candles and arranged them nicely on the table. My middle daughter (age 4) walks in the room and quips, “So who’s coming over?”
I have no comment.
Then today, I whipped up a simple chicken salad for dinner, and to add a little panache, I decided to make the rolls from scratch. I usually make “quick breads,” but today I pulled out the yeast and rolling pin. The kids all clamored around the museum artifact rolling pin, and yelped, “You mean we get to use it?!”
Oh well. Even if I’m not a domestic goddess waiting for an Oprah show guest appearance, I consoled myself with the fact that at least I’m a Prairie Muffin. But even recently, my Official Prairie Muffin status was ripped from me with this declaration: Prairie Muffins own aprons and they know how to use them.
I’m doomed now. You see, I don’t find aprons practical since I haven’t left the baby/toddler stage in almost eight years. Why wear an apron when baby shoulder spit-up or toddler facial juice adorns your shirt before you make it to the kitchen anyway? That’d just be another thing to wash.
I thought aprons were for women who had maids to iron them and men on cable cooking shows sporting pre-measured ingredients.
[Note: The administration understands and appreciates the spirit and sentiment of the Prairie Muffin Apron. She just hasn’t fixed one up yet.]
The Bible tells us to “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord,” and while that’s a good thing to do independently, we should remember to thank the Lord for the things and people He sends our way to help us a little in our journey.
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Oh, I’m disappointed. I figured you grew your own cotton, harvested it, wove it into fabric and then sewed it into a sturdy, yet modest apron! Oh my. I’m bereft.
Comment by Mel (January 5, 2006 @ 12:55 am )
Whew! I guess that takes me out of the Prairie Muffin category too. I don’t have the time to fuss with an apron. I figger it just saves on laundry not to wear one. Well, when I wash dishes the stuff soaks through the apron and onto two sets of clothes. No,it is not just dishwater either. Milk, soup stock or whatever. I tried a plastic apron and it ran down the apron soaked the shoes and the floor. Walking in puddles after walkng on our farm makes for a yucky dirty floor. It was twice the mess. I demand an exemption for Praire Muffins who don’t believe in aprons. We still belong to the muffin thing don’t we. Wait I better find out what this prairie muffin is before I decide I should have a special clause. OOPPSS….didn’t again. I am supposed to be on sabbatical. Failure, I tell you, I am a failure. Can’t make Prairie Muffin status, can’t keep from commenting on blogs. Sobbing all the way back to my blog.
Comment by KS Milkmaid (January 5, 2006 @ 1:13 am )
This post makes me feel like I’d like to be your friend. Could you be more real? It’s refreshing!
Comment by Heather (January 5, 2006 @ 1:23 am )
Speaking of the honesty of children, I just got a haircut (that I’m not all that happy with, btw, but it’s a little late for that right now) this morning. So I go teach the Jr. High Bible Study tonight, and after getting home, my 7 year old pats me reassuringly on the leg and, looking at me with a, “you poor dear” gaze, says, “So, did they all make fun of you because of your haircut, Mom?”
Yeeesh…
Comment by molly (January 5, 2006 @ 3:05 am )
One of my recently deceased grandmothers called me one day about a year ago and asked what I was doing. I said I was making cookies. She asked something about my apron being really dirty. When I told her I didn’t own an apron she made the sound of a needle skipping across a record.
Two days later, I opened the mailbox. There was a padded envelope and it contained an apron, from her. We both felt a lot better.
Comment by mopsy (January 5, 2006 @ 10:12 am )
Apron or no - the bread is delicious! (I just finished my lunch).
You will always be my prairie muffin!
Love you!
Comment by Greg (January 5, 2006 @ 11:27 am )
You are so funny…….I actually DO wear an apron. I did it so I would start wearing nicer clothes around the house and save them with my apron! My children always ask “who is coming over?” when I am really cleaning the house, lol. Go figure…….
And Molly…..I was rolling on the floor laughing about the haircut comment! I am sorry that you were unhappy, but that is TOO funny!
Comment by Candi (January 5, 2006 @ 11:32 am )
Amy, you also remind us that one of the things the Lord really blesses us with to help us through chaos is a sense of humour. I can’t for the life of me figure out why some people I’ve met seem to have been denied one altogether (could this have something to do with predestination??), but your constant, truly witty sparks always make me smile–sometimes laugh right out loud, at home or at the office–and remind me that if a woman of not-yet-30-and-nearly-five-kids can show that kind of graciousness, then surely I can, too!
You have the Troublesome Mrs. P.’s Seal of Approval!
(Okay, so it’s not Good Housekeeping. Whaddya want?)
Comment by Mrs. P. (January 5, 2006 @ 12:30 pm )
I have them, but FORGET to use them, until it is too late! Bibs too. I know… I drive my mother crazy!
I thought that the whole goal with the prairie muffin manifesto is that we “think” that way…not that we have arrived! I was so glad when I saw that piece for the first time (the PmM) even if I am not on board with most of it, there are others out there too who were hurt (or amused, I go back and forth) by the “baby machine, etc.” comments.
Comment by Margaret in VA (January 5, 2006 @ 1:04 pm )
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes, I can sympathize.
Comment by Jenna (January 5, 2006 @ 1:15 pm )
It appears I am a prairie muffin, too! Yea! And yes, I do own an apron, but I only wear it when I am baking, tee hee!
Comment by Nancy (January 5, 2006 @ 1:29 pm )
Amy, I found you through Two Talent Living and have dropped by a few times. Just want to tell you how much I enjoy your humor and writing style.
Jeana
Comment by Jeana (January 5, 2006 @ 1:40 pm )
I consider myself a Prairie Muffin as well, but I don’t wear an apron eaither; never have.
Comment by Candy (January 5, 2006 @ 1:45 pm )
I know that we need to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord–I completely agree. BUT–my husband, who grew up in farm country in Minnesota, informs me that in his farm experience, a “prairie muffin” is another name for a, well, cow pie. And while we sometimes need to eat humble pie, I don’t think association with cow dung is necessarily God’s plan for us.
So I prefer to think of myself as a suburban granola bar. I try to cook healthy meals from scratch. I don’t make beautiful things for my family by hand very often, mainly because my husband has asked me to please NOT sew, as it has a negative effect on my disposition, although he sometimes grants permission for short, simple projects. I believe very much in being submissive, but I find myself fighting my fleshly impulses in this area quite often.
After having three babies in less than three years and almost hemorrhaging to death the third time, I didn’t think birth control was, maybe, totally against God’s will. I figure that if He really wants me to have a baby, there is nothing stopping Him from overcoming my attempts to slow things down. “Nothing is impossible with God,” Luke 1:37.
I have not arrived, although my goal in life is to grow Christlike and be pleasing to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Comment by ruth (January 6, 2006 @ 11:45 am )
Yup, that’s the meaning I know as well, here in Texas. So there’s no way I’d want to be called by that name! LOL
Comment by NoWayAPrairieMuffin (February 14, 2007 @ 1:55 am )