The Monkey Bread Challenge

 

I was amazed to find, over the holidays, that one key to becoming my best Mom-self was to slow my frenetic pace, stop doing so many things for my kids and just BE with my kids. For a while I got so caught up in being the PTA president, serving in my church youth group, working part time, planning a wedding, preparing for the holidays and encouraging my kids to develop their unique talents, that I lost track of who my kids were. I felt like this was especially true for my younger ones.

Imagine my disappointment when I realized I couldn’t identify what my 8-year-old would love best for Christmas. When I asked her what would be her ultimate Christmas wish, if it could be anything at all, she said, “I want to help you make the monkey bread for Christmas morning.” Wow. I didn’t realize how giving that kind of gift had become difficult for me. Had I become that protective of the things I was doing, presumably, for my kids? I now had to do these things all myself? I had everything planned out in my mind for a simple, happy Christmas. But, it was a complete do-it-myself holiday.

What kind of holiday is one you make all by yourself, when you have a whole family to make it with? I decided I’d throw caution to the wind – let the pudding mix fall where it may. I broke out the frozen rolls and let my daughter build our traditional Christmas breakfast treat the night before.

Our Christmas morning monkey bread was even better than usual (not even slightly burnt on top). And, my daughter also got to help Santa fill some stockings before going to bed on Christmas Eve. It was beautiful. It was simple. I just had to let go and BE with her for these activities, not do them for her. The enjoyment was always supposed to be in the doing together. And, surprise for me! It was. I felt my Mom-self loving it and not worrying about brown sugar on the counter or getting the floor a little sticky.

This realization isn’t just for holidays either. I felt better about my holiday and better about myself. All it took was letting my daughter into my world and sharing hers for a few minutes.

QUESTION: What is it that prevents us from truly being there with our children?

CHALLENGE: Invite your children to do one task with you today; try to choose something that you normally do for them.

*****

Monkey Bread

18 frozen roll dough balls
1 3-oz pkg cook ‘n’ serve butterscotch pudding
1 cube butter or margarine, melted
2/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Place frozen rolls in greased bundt pan. Combine remaining ingredients. Stir just until moist. Pour over frozen dough. Place on rack below center in oven overnight (not more than 8 hours). Turn on oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. (Preheating is not necessary.)

Note: If you let them rise too much, the topping will spill over, and you’ll end up with a sticky, smelly mess in the bottom of the oven.

About Chantel Rhodes

Chantel Rhodes is married to Joseph. They have four beautiful children and are beginning the adventure of teen parenting. Marriage and motherhood are Chantel’s primary jobs and the most challenging, though rewarding, of all the jobs she juggles. She also enjoys almost everything to do with words: writing, reading, playing word games, poetry, songs. Music fills her home – visitors most often hear Celtic music, show tunes or something classical playing in the background (although someone occasionally gets a wild hair to play Ray Stevens or Weird Al). And, if not for her sister’s recent wedding, she would not appear in a picture, usually being the one behind the camera whenever photos are taken. She’s a recovering perfectionist learning to take life as it comes and have more fun! Besides that, she’s a paralegal and has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University.