Last week my husband and I sent our daughter off to school, gave our son a kiss, and headed out the door for our first child free day since I gave birth to our precious girl six and a half years ago.
I’d like to say it was for a glamorous lunch date, perhaps followed by some live tunes or a catch up with old friends.
It wasn’t. It was for a specialist appointment that we had in the city. We knew the appointment wouldn’t finish until lunchtime and would also involve much waiting around as well as a fairly in-depth and potentially upsetting chat with the Doctor. We decided it might be best for everyone to leave our little boy, who still needs his day sleep, at home with his Gran who is visiting from interstate.
This would enable us to have the appointment and then grab a few things from the shopping centre before heading home.
Once the appointment was over we had lunch, at a food court. It was just the two of us. I wasn’t eating while trying to feed someone else or wiping up spilt water. We didn’t have to answer ‘what’s that noise?’ or ‘can I have your sushi?’ a single time.
The shopping begun. It was at a slow, relaxed pace. My husband was patient. My mind was clear. It was an entirely new world.
When we got home my babies ran to the door and gave me huge hugs and kisses. Everyone was happy.
I love taking my kids out with us. I love sharing with them the things their Father and I enjoy. I love seeing their little faces and hearing their thoughts when they have experiences that differ from the everyday.
But I also loved this time with my husband. It was as though we took a moment to breath, to slow down and to have some time to ourselves. It is something we seldom get the chance to do and it may well be another six and a half years before we can do it again. However, I am already fantasising about somehow getting Mum back at the end of the year and sneaking away for a day of Christmas shopping. Perhaps one day we will even go on a date.
Granola or Toasted Muesli
- 1 cup almonds*
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- 10 medjool dates, seeds removed
- 1 teaspoon concentrated natural vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter (40 grams)
- 1/4 cup goji berries
- Preheat your oven to 175°C or 350°F
- Line a large tray with baking paper.
- Place all ingredients except for the goji berries into your food processor in the order listed above. Pulse and stir until the mixture resembles muesli or is chopped to your liking.
- Spread the mixture evenly over your tray and bake in the preheated oven for 12 – 15 minutes. Stir and bake for a further 5 – 7 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle over the goji berries. Allow to cool.
- Store. Eat. Enjoy.
*to make this nut free simply increase the pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and desiccated coconut by 1/3 cup to make up the 1 cup of almonds in the original recipe.
I think that jars of granola / muesli in any size make lovely gifts, it is certainly one that we like receiving.
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