Pats on the back and pumpkin pudding

The holidays are right around the corner! You know what that means… turkey, gravy, cookies, pumpkin pie… you get the picture. Why not give your holiday menu a makeover. Join me and 100 of your closest girlfriends for the 12 Days of Healthy Holiday Recipes. Oh yeah, it’s totally free. My holiday gift to you. Click here and sign up!)
What is my rating as a mom?
When I was in consulting we used to have a mid-year review and a year-end review. During these times, we were compared to our peers and given a number rating. 1’s were really hard to come by. You basically had to live and breathe work. 2’s were totally awesome and most likely were accompanied by a nice pay increase. 3’s meant your were doing good, not great, but status quo. 4’s and 5’s? You didn’t want those.
I used to dread those reviews. What if I get 4? What if I got a bad comment from my supervisor? What if I don’t get a raise?
Life is funny like that. What I used to dread I now crave. My primary job these days is stay-at-home mama. On a daily basis, I wonder if I am parenting “right.” Am I potty training Madilyn the “right” way? Should we allow her to come into our bed in the early morning to cuddle? Is Yo Gabba Gabba OK to watch at 22 months old?
I thought those reviews were everything back in the day. Today, I couldn’t even tell you what I got. I think I got mostly 2’s and a couple 3’s.
Moms don’t get a formal review. I joke with Brian that I want him to give me a review. Maybe a couple of gold stars for making a kick-ass dinner and getting Madilyn to pee in her potty not on the floor.
Find the review in the little thank yous. When your husband sneaks up behind you when you are cooking dinner and kisses your neck. When your daughter follows you and grabs onto your leg. When she whispers, “I love mama” when you tell her good night.
Sure, I won’t ever really know what rating I would get as a mama but if I remember to look at the little thank yous, I would say I got a 1 this year.
Oh, you also got a 1. Celebrate with some pumpkin pudding.
Perfect Pumpkin Pudding
Ingredients:
1 can of organic pureed pumpkin
1 cup water
2 cups milk (I used almond milk)
2 tablespoons kuzu root starch (Eden Kuzu Root Starch, Organic, 3.5-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4))
1 teaspoon cinnamin
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/3 cup maple syrup
Directions:
Put all ingredients in a pot except the kuzu root. Cook on medium heat for about 4 minutes. Stir occasionally. In a small bowl, dilute the kuzu root with a little water and add to the pot. The kuzu will help thicken the pudding. Turn down heat and let the pudding simmer for about 5 minutes. You want it to be thick and bubbling. Pour in a glass bowl and let it cool. Put in the fridge for about an hour. Top with some crunchy granola if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from The Whole Truth by Andrea Beaman