Back-to-School Surprise!

Have you ever wanted to ease the burdens of your family facing the back-to-school schedules and the return to reality? One of the best ways is with an evening meal that you prepare and deliver.

I suppose the seed of this idea was planted years ago. My sister had just married and was probably overwhelmed with the work-a-day world, and all the obligations of married life. Whatever the reason, my mother decided that she would prepare a meal for the newlyweds. I'm not sure what she prepared, but I remember dessert was my sister's favorite, homemade cherry pie! 

When the meal was cooked, I helped my mother put everything in the car. Then we were off to Barbara and Richard's little duplex apartment. Of course it was locked, but we found a unlocked window. We took off the screen and mother helped me climb in. I unlocked the backdoor and with giggles and chuckles, we placed all the food on the small apartment's cookstove. I remember how happy my mother was--we both were. It would be such a surprise for my sister and her husband!

My sweet daughter-in-law is a kindergarten teacher and school is back in swing! I used to teach school too, and I remember full well how hectic (and tiring!) starting back to the daily grind of teaching school can be. It's fun of course, but exhausting. Add to that your own children who are returning to that world as well. If I can help out with a home cooked meal and deliver it, then by golly, that's what I'm going to do.

Really no step by step instructions for this in this week's blog. Just prepare some of their favorites and meet them at the house. I realize you could prepare the meal, and invite them over. But you know how it is--they have dance lessons, athletic practice, homework assignments and a myriad of other activities. Sometimes it's just easier to deliver a meal. And there's that element of surprise that seems to make everyone happy!

But my children and grandchildren don't live in town.

Then send them a gift card! That's pretty simple and much appreciated this time of year. There are wonderful delis, delivery food services that will bring a prepared meal to your home, and just about every restaurant has a "To Go" service with parking just for those customers. Very easy in this modern world. So do it! Send your family a gift card!

But wait! There's more!

My son and daughter-in-law have a box of mealtime questions at their family dinner table. Each person grabs a question out of the box, and in turn, answers it. If they don't use the questions in the box, then usually my son or daughter-in-law asks a couple of questions: 1) What was the BEST thing that happened in your day; 2) What was the thing that happened that you least liked?

As you can see, their philosophy is not merely supping together, but truly bonding and having family discussions. 

So for the meal I'm taking this week, I plan to include some questions. You can find them online, but here are some samples:

1. Trusty favorite: What is something you learned today?
2. What do you admire the most about the person sitting to your right?
3. Family history question: Do you know how your parents met? Your grandparents?
4. If you could invite any three people in the world to our dinner, who would you invite?

You get the idea. And even if you don't add some conversation pieces, just preparing a meal or even picking one up and delivering, is the best! Make someone's day--JUST DO IT! I could tell from my mother's face from that long-ago delivery that she was the one having the most fun! We should all take a lesson from Granny! 

*One final note: Take some paper goods. You don't want them to have to wash dishes. ;)