I recently found myself at another kid’s birthday bash. Seriously, if your kids are under 7, it feels like there’s a party every weekend! The celebration had just kicked off, and while the kids hadn’t started their typical chaos yet, my 4-year-old son, Timmy, already set the tone by calling someone a “Silly Pants.” Seizing the opportunity, I made my way to the food table before it turned into a finger-licked disaster.
At these gatherings, I’ve noticed the food spreads are getting more extravagant as moms compete to outdo the last party’s menu. I’m totally on board with this culinary competition—bring on the tasty treats! My plate quickly filled with a delightful assortment of meatballs, spanakopita, cheesy bread, herb dip, Margherita pizza, and some fruits and veggies thrown in to maintain my “I eat healthy” image.
During my feast, another mom mentioned she was starving because she “forgot” to eat lunch. This baffled me! She said it was a frequent occurrence and that her husband sometimes had to remind her to eat. I mean, what? I can’t recall a time when I’ve ever “forgotten” a meal—especially not since becoming a mom. I barely function on little sleep, let alone on an empty stomach.
Food is my motivation to rise when Timmy bursts in at the crack of dawn, ready to seize the day. It fuels me as I juggle making his school lunch, reminding him for the tenth time to get dressed, and sorting LEGOs with my teeth. Food gives me the energy to drag myself into the shower and throw on something other than the same t-shirt I’ve been wearing for three days. It even helps me muster the patience to coax Timmy into the car for school when he insists on building a LEGO tower first, despite only three pieces being in place—the very ones I separated with my teeth!
Food is my lifeline at birthday parties too. As long as I’ve had my “three squares a day,” I can handle the toy store run, buy a toy, hide it, and deal with the inevitable tantrum when Timmy finds it. On party days like this, with Margherita pizza and meatballs in my belly, I can manage the bounce house and keep an eye on the kids. “Timmy, watch out! Don’t crash into Lily!” I’m even able to comfort him when the balloon animal he just waited ten minutes for pops. During the cake cutting, I’m the firm voice saying, “Wait your turn! Your slice is coming!” And when the goody bag bursts open in the car, sending fifty-cent toys rolling under my seat, I can keep my cool while Timmy screams that he wants his toy “fixed right now!”
I can do all this because I’m a mom who “remembers to eat.” I’ve realized that a full stomach equals a more capable mommy. Even if, by some cosmic event, I suddenly forgot to eat lunch and it was 2:30 PM, I’m pretty sure just walking through the kitchen would trigger the pantry doors to swing open, the fridge to light up, and apples to roll into my hands, perfectly peeled.
You know those survival shows where people are lost in the woods, living off droplets of water from leaves, and they get ecstatic about a meal of roasted skunk after three days? I would literally perish before they got any camera footage back to the editing bay. If Timmy was with me, I’d be done for even sooner!
Forget to eat? I’d be more likely to forget to breathe!
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Summary:
The piece humorously explores the notion of “forgetting” to eat, especially as a busy mom. It highlights the author’s experiences at birthday parties, juggling parenting responsibilities, and the importance of food in maintaining energy and sanity. Through relatable anecdotes, the author conveys that a satisfied stomach leads to a more capable and patient parent.