The Sad Truth

When I posted “The Family Audition” and wrote about our family traditions, a few friends commented on Facebook that we should have mentioned the Donut Friday tradition.  But, you see, that is MY tradition, and sadly, my kids do not share in the same donut joy as I do.  No matter how hard I try to convince them of the sweet bready goodness, they just won’t get as excited as I do.   Oh sure...I may post pictures on FB that make it look like my family and I eat our donuts regularly in blissful harmony, but that is Facebook lore.  Yes, my friends it's true...not everything is at it seems online.

This morning is a case in point.   My husband had left for work and when he got to the BART station he realized that his wallet was at home.  The kids and I hopped in the car (as fast as one “hops” with little kids in tow) to take his wallet to him.  Since we were out early AND it was a Friday, I couldn’t help but think that it might be good to stop by the donut shop on the way home.

“Hey kids, would you mind if we stop for donuts on the way home?” I asked.  And, I have to actually add “YOU don’t have to get one, it’s for me.”

“I want a smoothie!!” shouts my daughter (who doesn’t actually eat smoothies). “No! I want a bagel! A Bagel!!”   This is a result of another day’s adventure where we went to a Noah’s Bagels, which was right next to a Jamba Juice (aren’t they all?) and I got a smoothie.  They both scoffed at the time and said they wanted a bagel next door.  And then salivated the whole time I ate my smoothie.  My daughter has wanted one since.

Anyway, so I explain that this place does not have all those things.  It just has donuts, and if it’s going to be such a big deal we don’t have to go (but secretly, I was heartbroken).   Then my daughter pipes up “I’ll have a donut!”.   I knew she would come around, but it’s less than satisfactory because she only enjoys the donut because of sprinkles.  She doesn’t love them like I do.

Meanwhile my son of five has already mastered the sort of scoff, hoity-toity view of those who eat junk food. “I don’t LIKE donuts.” “I don’t LIKE cake.” “I don’t LIKE ice cream.” And, when with me, he knows he doesn’t have to keep reminding me, so he’s taken to just looking down his nose in disgust dare I suggest such sweetness.   (To be fair, I adopt that same look of disgust when someone tells me they like sugar in their coffee.)

So, I drag my poor poor kids to the donut shop.  Get two for me and one with sprinkles for my daughter and head home to make them eggs.   I ate one donut in their presence, and after I had dropped them off for the morning, I made myself a fresh cup of coffee and enjoyed my second donut in peaceful silence.    Ahhh….

If anything, the crazy pleas that I have to make just to get the kids to the donut shop with me are the family tradition...

This is what my daughter's donut looks like when she's done with it. It looks like she murdered it.