For most of us, during the work week, the majority of our waking hours are spent at work. Like everyone else, I look forward to the weekends.  Call me delusional, but even after 11 years of motherhood, every Friday night I still imagine that I’m going to sleep in until 10 am the next day.  Of course, it never happens.  Most Saturday mornings, I’m up by 7 am, and by 9 am I’ve made breakfast, done a load of laundry (or two), watered the garden, cleaned around the house, started an art project with my 4 year old, and baked something for the kids. I suppose it’s the same for many working mothers, this transformation from Monday to Friday career woman to weekend domestic goddess, but until recently, I wasn’t much aware of this transformation in myself.  Then one Saturday evening, happy and exhausted, I reflected back on my day and giggled at the thought that my colleagues at work would never recognize the woman who spent that day doing 3 loads of laundry, baking brownies, making clay magnets with googly eyes, jumping rope, napping, planting strawberries, and making homemade pizza for dinner. I was exhausted, but completely fulfilled.

Baking has become a Saturday morning tradition at our house. With all the laundry and chores to be done, there’s always time for baking, whether it’s healthy muffins that can last long into the workweek for easy breakfasts, or brownies or cookies.  Baking is quality time with the kids.  My 4 year old has now mastered the art of breaking eggs without leaving bits of eggshell in the batter, and my 11 year old still gets upset if I don’t leave the spoon for her to lick when we’re done.

Having spotted three brown bananas in the fruit bowl the other day, I had planned to make banana muffins this morning.  Little did I know that it would turn out to be a powerful lesson in empowerment and self-esteem.  The morning was off to its usual start – laundry and pancakes – and then my daughter toted out the markers and paper and began to draw.  Minutes later I heard a frustrated whine and the tears began.  She had decided that today was the day she was going to draw a perfect star, only it wasn’t working out very well.  I drew stars with pencil for her to trace, I guided her hand, I did my best to explain that stars come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes they’re so far away in the sky that they look just like dots! (good try, Mom).  Nothing could stop the whining, her determination, and the incessant “they’re hard, Mommy, they’re hard.”  Nothing, that is, except the opportunity to bake. And so it began – mashing bananas, cracking eggs, stirring batter, putting the little muffin papers in the muffin tin.  Her face brightened and she said, “Mommy, I’m good at this.”  I asked if this time, for the first time, she’d like to scoop the batter into the little muffin papers.  “Of course!  I can do that!”  It was magical.  I had managed to usher her through her frustration and find something that we could do together, that she could do well, the end result of which was a delicious treat! It was empowering for both of us.  Her self-esteem soared, and so did mine.  For all the weekend domestic goddesses out there, here is what we now call the ‘Magical’ Banana Muffin recipe.  I can’t promise that it will lift your or your child’s self-esteem, but I can guarantee that the muffins are delicious!

Magical Banana Muffins (makes 18)

½ c. butter, softened

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 mashed ripe bananas

1 ¼ c. all purpose flour

1 ½ tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1 c. plain or vanilla yogurt

1 c. oats

 ½  chopped walnut or pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F and prepare muffin tin. Cream butter and sugar well.  Add eggs, vanilla and mashed bananas. Gradually add dry ingredients, then yogurt.  Stir in oatmeal (and nuts).  Do not overmix. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown.