Happy Thoughts

Instead of writing a scathing review on corporate America and the decline of family and individual health, I decided to post some pictures of kids in daffodils. I wish I could take away all of Jerry's headaches and impending ulcers. I wish I could take away his sixteen hour work days. I wish I could annihilate his co-workers that say their next hire will be someone "without family". I wish we could pick flowers instead. Jer, you're doing great.

I've promised myself that my youngest would get her fair share of camera time. Maybe I'm good for a while?

Thinking to myself that what I ate today for dinner can't possibly be considered a salad. The animal products outweighed the veg by about 6:1. I've discovered that egg, bacon and bacon vinigrette are a seductive combination. The lettuce, tomatos and avocado were just afterthoughts... These thoughts have nothing to do with the photos above. It's been full-on summer this last week. E keeps asking to pull out the sprinkler. This afternoon we ended up with a pile of ribbon, some music and two wanna-be birds.

Winter Wheat Berry Salad

Winter Wheat Berry Salad with Figs & Red Onion
Adapted from Johnny Dornback of Basi Italia. Serves 8

1 1/2 cups wheat berries
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried figs, chopped finely
1/2 medium red onion (about 1/3 pound)
3 large stalks celery
1/4 cup good-quality olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon zest, from 2 lemons
1 cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped
Handful fresh parsley or mint, finely chopped
1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

Put the wheat berries in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then turn the heat down to low and partially cover the pot. Cook for 45 minutes, or until the wheat berries are soft yet still chewy.

While the wheat berries are cooking, whisk the rice vinegar, orange juice, and honey together in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and add the raisins and chopped figs. Turn off the heat and let the fruit steep in the juice and vinegar mixture.

Finely dice the red onion; you will end up with between 1 and 1 1/2 cups. Finely dice the celery as well; you will have between 1 1/2 and 2 cups. Mix them in a large bowl.

When the wheat berries are tender enough to be chewed easily, drain them, then pour them into the large bowl with the red onion and celery. Toss with the olive oil and lemon zest. Add the vinegar and juice mixture, and all the fruit, and mix. Toss with the almonds, chopped parsley or mint, and with the salt. Add pepper to taste.

Let the salad stand at room temperature for at least one hour before serving, to allow the flavors mix and soak into the grain. Serve warm or at room temperature.

The salad can also be refrigerated for up to three days.

Nothing like catching up with old friends while the bounce-house babysits.

What I Do

Ella asked me if she could join me at work the other week. I wished she could. I wanted to tell her about the time I took her to the public aid office when she was a baby. My client had an emergency and the daycare was closed. I remember changing her diaper on the concrete floor of the office because it seemed like a more sanitary option then the bathroom. You do what you have to do when you are waiting for FIVE hours. How's that for professional courtesy? I'm not sure how I would even describe what I do. My job isn't the kind of fun office environment that coordinates kickball leagues. There are no cubicles plastered with pictures of home, stress balls and inspirational quotes. My work is done in bug infested basements, smelling of mold, poblano peppers and burnt tortillas. I try my best to disconnect myself from the comforts of my home, my marriage and my kids. I come to work (on my good days) devoid of a personal story. I see lives tangled up in legal woes, medical complexities, loneliness, fear, language barriers and exhaustion. Every day I see people doing things that don't seem humanly possible. They are tired but they keep going. To say my clients are an inspiration sounds trite. They screw up, they fall down just like we all do. To say that I "help people" sounds dumb too. I'm not really into that whole Polly-anna social worker thing. I did that in my twenties. I provide a platform for thought and discussion. I try to bridge the gap between rural Mexico and Chicago. It can be tough for a whole host of reasons. At the risk of sounding like a four year old...it's not fair. But despite the difficulties I love what I do. I love getting lost in the Spanish language and getting elotes from the guy on the corner. I'm so interested in how people's lives evolve and what hand we have in our own evolution. Unfortunately girls, my job won't be hosting any family picnics any time soon. But know that your Mommy loves what she does.

Namaste

Say goodbye to winter and hello to spring. It's Holi Festival yo. I've always been fascinated with all things Indian. I've decided to wait a few more years before we buy the powdered pigments and host an all out war in our back yard. This year a bathtub full of face paint will have to suffice. The girls spent forty-five minutes (that is like five years in toddler world) coloring and decorating each other. I spent another hour cleaning the tub afterwards. We made mango lassis and the most kid friendly Indian dish I know, tikka masala. Grandparents, there are more pictures in your inboxes. Thought that posting nude pictures of my daughters on-line may qualify as a big no-no...even though it was quite artistic.

Why hello there nice, new, cream couch. Viv, your parents are idiots.

Parent Teacher Conferences

I lived up to my promise. I said aloud to myself this morning that I would not get my undies in a bundle. Parent-teacher conferences can do that to a girl.
This past fall, Ella's progress note had gently suggested goals such as "problem solving", "sharing thoughts with her friends" to which I immediately responded with a probing email to her instructors...one that would make a colonoscopy seem like a less intrusive endeavor. Happily, for her teachers and I, Ella's current school performance is nothing but smiles-I hope I have not scared them into silence. The teachers showed us pictures of her progress over the last several months. She gardens, has cared for tree frogs and hermit crabs. She dresses up and has forged new friendships. She dances and goes sledding. Basically everything a four year old needs to be doing. She is also learning to assert herself in more mature ways. We've talked about how to ignore the other kids when they call her "baby" (she is the smallest in the class). I've also witnessed her sticking up for her sister. The other day Viv started crying after an encounter with one of Ella's classmates. Ella immediately stopped packing up her backpack and confronted him, fists balled up at her sides. "Viv is my baby sister. Did you hurt her?". He assured her that he didn't. Ella comforted Viv and I was so proud.
Viv is rocking the toddler room. She finger paints and wears hats. She loves being read to and will sing like a bird. She is reportedly the class jokester but I'm not sure how that plays out at eighteen months of age. Our little Chelsea Handler apparently has the entire lunch table in stitches.
My girls are happy, I'm happy and for now her teachers inboxes are empty. We went out for burgers and milkshakes to celebrate. May it always be this easy.