母親的愛之味

Taste of Love

佚名／Anonymous

After several months of annoying body aches and pains, a friend suggested I start taking vitamins and some organic, unrefined oils to aid in my overall health. I was interested in getting myself back into better shape and so it didn’t take much to convince me. Then once I began using them, I liked the results, less headaches, more energy; they seemed to be working. I faithfully took the five capsules every day until the time came when I needed to get some refills.

I looked through the mail-order catalog and found the stuff I wanted to order. Then, I looked further down and discovered the product any good mother would want to give her children. I found the children’s version of these oil pills I had been taking. I carefully read the description and without hesitation placed my order. 

Soon the small box arrived at our doorstep just before my two oldest boys arrived home from school. My freshly baked brownies were cooling on the kitchen counter and I was excited to greet them. I looked at the delightful bottle their special product had arrived in and smiled contentedly to myself. Darling little jungle animals decorated the bottle. Big, bold lettering emphasized the scrumptious butterscotch flavor. An eye-catching caption said it was delicious over desserts! I suddenly had an idea! 

My guys bounded up the street and took their usual places around the kitchen table eagerly awaiting their afternoon snack. I told them about the yummy brownies and they were practically salivating with anticipation! Carefully I cut each of my three sons a warm square of brownie. I diverted their attention and poured a few thick drops of this oil on top of their brownies. The oil sat there on the brownies for a moment, almost like it was saying, “Are you sure you want to do this?” But then it seeped deep into the dark chocolate. They’d never know I had added some health food in the middle of this treat. Ah ha!

I presented each boy with their own plate and it was Nathaniel, the oldest and most discerning that asked me, “Mom, what’s that on the brownies?” I gingerly walk around the question and encouraged him to dig in. The bite had barely entered his mouth when he grimaced and contorted. He held the moist brownie bits on the curl of his tongue hoping not to swallow any and cried, “Ugh! Mom, these are sick! What did you do? They taste terrible!” I tried not to laugh and despite me encouraging him to try another bite, ( he was almost gagging from the first one.) he quickly declined. Seeing their big brother so grossed out, the other boys suddenly lost their interest in their snack.They just wanted to leave the table on an empty stomach without incident. 

Perhaps you can relate. I wanted to be the best mom in the world with a homemade snack and some health food all rolled up into one great afternoon treat. Again my attempt to sneak more nutrition into their meals was foiled. The tofu I had added to their tacos one time was a bomb. The seitan  mashed soy bean curd  I had cooked and tried to present as chicken was a culinary calamity. And although I had experienced moderate success with spinach brownies, it was clear I blew it again!     

While the taste of that nasty concoction will hopefully fade from my son’s mind one day, I do hope he does remember one thing. His mom tried. God bless her soul, she tried. She didn’t hit the mark with everything she made but she did have a yummy kind of love for her family. She didn’t always make the best stuff in the world but she had a good recipe for life. She never forgot the secret ingredient of sweet love. It was never omitted.      

Perhaps when he gets older, recalling all the food disasters, Nathaniel will be able to reflect upon our life as a family and see the deliciousness in it all. And simply smile remembering the taste of love only a mother can give.