Monday Night Tradition

If you ask my boys what Monday night means in our home, you will get the following response:

"Pancake Night!!"

The boys and I started a little tradition about six months ago, and of course, that tradition would involve food! Monday is Eric's looooong day at work. He does not get home until 10:30pm, way after the little guys have been tucked into bed. It used to be a day that I really dreaded. But the boys and I have learned to make the most of our "Day without Daddy" Mondays.

And what better way to do that than with one of our most favorite comfort foods, sweet potato pancakes!!

It is definitely a family affair. One that takes about three times longer than if Mommy did it on her own. But what would be the fun in that? Each Workman has his/her own special pancake job, which involves his/her very own spatula. Biz makes sure to pass them out as Mommy fires up the griddle. Of course, we get the same spatula each week. Our rigid little first born would have it no other way.

First step: All good cookers must have clean hands. Mommy's rule and one that I think a very good one.

Second step: After all hands are clean, both boys hop (or are lifted) to their designated spot on the counter.

Third step: Mommy purees the stemmed sweet potatoes and gets the same reaction each week:

Yes, this little device, sends both of my guys into ear and, apparently, eye protection mode.

Fourth step: Mommy mixes the pancake batter, throws in the sweet potatoes, and dollops ice cream scoop sized batter blobs on the heated griddle.

Fifth step: The most pivotal part of the whole process...the Flip Flop. This is Mommy's job and one of the reasons that my children find adulthood so fascinating. Yes, one day, they will be old enough to be the flip-flopper in the pancake process. Your time will come boys. Your time will come.

Sixth step: After all of the flip-flopping has occurred, the griddle is removed from the stove and held at as safe distance from my eager two-year-old, but close enough for his special spatula to reach. Seth is the patter. He has to make sure that each pancake is patted flat. Oftentimes, big brother tries to butt in on this job, but he is quickly reminded by little brother that it is not his turn yet. Then the griddle is returned to stove to finish cooking.

Seventh step: After waiting, oh so patiently, Biz gets to use his special spatula and remove the cooked pancakes from the griddle onto the plate. Sounds easy, right? Surprisingly, it takes much skill and practice to actually hit the plate that is actually placed RIGHT under the pancake. Somehow when you place a spatula in the hands of a child who usually has "ants in his pants," your pancakes can end up anywhere in the kitchen, if you are not paying close attention and if your reflexes have not been precisely honed for such an activity as this. Pancake night is not for amateurs, I might add. Biz does pretty well now at hitting his mark...most of the time.

Eighth step: Mommy scrambles the eggs at break neck speed, in order to get our meal quickly on the table and not eaten at the counter before we get there. Sweet potatoe pancakes are awfully tasty and little boys have to exercise extreme restrain not to gobble them up when Mommy has her back turned for 0.5 seconds.

Ninth step: (Bet you didn't know there were nine steps in making pancakes.) Time for a fun meal with my boys. One that we all had a part in and enjoy so much each week.

So, Monday nights are not so bad anymore.

And did I mention, they are pants optional?