Often times I share those fleeting moments we face as parents when we realize that our days with our kids are numbered. My post on the 940 Saturdays we have with them is the perfect example. Here’s another…
Dinner was finished and Heather and I were hurriedly cleaning the kitchen to get ready for homework, having sent Jack to get a bath while we did. There’s something about bath time and bed time that open little doors in kid’s minds that allow 387 questions to fall out – all demanding to be answered immediately. “Mama, can I wear a sweatshirt to school tomorrow?” “Daddy, what time does SpongeBob come on?” “Why do people say that goats eat everything? Surely they can’t eat every everything.” You get the idea. After a litany of those types of questions, I hear… “Mama, will you come wash me?” I look over to Heather and violently shake my head “no”. She looks at me with contempt. “Heather, he’s 7,” I say. “He’s far too old for you to be bathing him.” She babies him too much, I think. She always argues that since Jack’s our only child, she won’t ever get the chance to do these things again. I’m often the one who see’s the need to make him “act his age” and “toughen up.” I think it’s some part of a man’s DNA that becomes ever-present when becoming a father. We’re supposed to make them rough around the edges. But as I heard the giggles and splashes that eventually drifted down the hallway as she bathed him (yes, I lost the battle), I realized that all too soon that bedroom across from ours will be empty – left as a shrine to his childhood or adolescence or stinky teenager mess. Whatever it might be, it won’t be long until baths become showers and doors that lingered open during childhood baths will be closed. The day will come when “Mama, will you come wash me?” will become “Mom, get out of here!” Eventually our babies won’t be babies anymore.
Now, I’m certainly no parenting expert. We’re just flying by the seat of our pants here. That said, I think there’s a delicate balance between loving our children and babying them too much. But, for now… I won’t protest the help with baths, those will end too soon. A child filled with a thousand questions will eventually become a teenager who knows everything. And the opportunities we have to love on our babies as babies will quickly run out. Ya gotta love them while they’ll let ya. Oh, and Heather… Jack needs some help with his bath. 🙂
Now, let’s make some soup. Y’all this is a new favorite at our house. It’s got all the flavor of chicken noodle except the noodles have grown up and become cheese tortellini! The best part is that you can get it done in about 30 minutes! Who doesn’t love that!? Want something a little hardier? Simply add about 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great!) with the tortellini at the end. Y’all enjoy!!
Recipe Card
30-Minute Cheese Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 carrots thinly sliced
- 3 celery ribs thinly sliced
- 1/2 large onion thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 (32-ounce) containers chicken stock (or broth)
- 1 (19-ounce) package frozen cheese tortellini
Instructions
- Heat a large dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat. Melt the butter and add the carrots, celery and onions. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the stock and bring to a rolling boil. Boil for about 10 minutes then add the tortellini. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the tortellini is cooked through - most of the time thy start rising to the top when they are done. Enjoy!
Please note:
Nutritional values provided are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Our secret ingredient to chicken noodle soup is to shredded Parmesan cheese after you take it off the stove. Shhhhhh.
YUM!
I have done this many times in the early days while raising my kids. Added suggestion I used to bake parmesan cheese on foil in th oven until crisp and place on top.
Yum!! What a great idea!
The only thing I would change in this recipe is the cheese tortellini. I would use the chicken and herb tortellini instead. Has more flavor.
Great idea! I’ve not seen those.
And someday will be the LAST day that he will ask for help while bathing, but you won’t realize it until later, and you won’t remember that it was the last day.
I totally agree with Pam and Eleanor, and my eyes filled with tears as I read your story and their comments. Enjoy every moment that is presented to you, no matter what it may be. It makes me feel good to still receive an “I Love You, hugs and kisses” from our boys, even in front of students, friends etc… We still cut up, play and act silly. My family says that I’m too old to play like that with them. I say “No”, I’m going to enjoy this as long as they still allow me to be silly with them I, too, know that one day it’ll all change, but I will enjoy every wonderful day that is given to me. Okay, now for the soup…this is a filling looking soup for only 30 minutes. Fantastic and I have all the ingredients on hand!
“You’ve got to love them while they’ll let ya.” Truer words never spoken! I can remember with stunning clarity the last time my oldest son, now 34 years old, last ran across a church parking lot to hug me in front of all his friends. He was 10. That memory got me through those teenage years when Moms become invisible to the sweet joys of having a beautiful relationship with a now-grown man with children of his own… and now my grandchildren’s faces light up when I walk in a room. Life is good. And so is this soup!!
Stacey — I am blessed with three sons — 27, 32 & 37! I remember those early years so well and they will transition to those tuffer teenage years!! Hold onto the giggles and the bathtimes. That’s generally when secrets are shared and it won’t be too long before Jack will not hold on so tightly. Njoy and you all are so blessed! Thank u for your recipes and your stories!
This looks so warm and comforting!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Looks delicious! Perfect for these cold nights we’re having right now!