Cheesecake Or Bust

     There are several questions that get asked on a regular basis in our home. Some of the more common ones are;

Mommy, do you have to work today?  Do you have any money?  Can _______come over?  Are we going anywhere?  

     But the number one question asked by everyone is....drumroll please...."What are we gonna have for supper?"

     I've grown to HATE this question!  I know, hate is a very strong word.  I get that.  Well, I hate it!

     Eating is pretty unimportant to me for the most part.  I basically do it to survive and to get that loud, uncomfortable noise that my stomach makes once in a while to shut up.  

     So, a few nights ago when Curtis asked me what was for supper, before the top of my head blew off I said, "I don't really care what you and the kids have but I want cheesecake!"

     We sat here a little longer and he said, "Seriously Jenny.  What are we gonna feed these kids?"  

     We had our five, the boys had two friends staying the night and I was babysitting my neighbors little boys.  So with nine hungry kids, all that was going through my mind was ......

     

You guessed it.  CHEESECAKE!  

     Curtis went to the store.  Incase you all want to know the answer the the question.  Chili dogs! We had chili dogs for supper.  That's always a big hit around here.  It's fast and easy. 

     Oh, and yes.  He brought me my cheesecake.  Now this is where the story gets good.

     I told him before he left NOT to let the kids see him carry it in.  I was sending him on somewhat of a secret mission.

     I'm not, by nature, a stingy or selfish person.  I love to share things with others.  But sometimes I just need a whole entire New York Style Cheesecake to myself.  Is that too much to ask?  I think not.

     So, I fixed supper.  Got all nine of the hungry little animals fed.  And waited. 

     I felt like what I imagine a teenager feels like when they're waiting for their parents to go to bed so they can sneak out of the house.  Thirty minutes felt like two hours!  

     The kids finally scattered and I made my break for the kitchen.  I had to play it cool.  

     If I lock myself in the bedroom they'll know something's up.  If I eat it in the bathroom that's just gross.  Besides, my big brother, Tim always told me when I was little that if I didn't quit eating in the bathroom I would go blind.  To this day, I'm not willing to take the chance and I have perfect eye sight.  Just sayin'.

     So, what does any other mature, respected, adult do?  I sat on the couch with the cheesecake on my lap, under a blanket.  Every time the room was evacuated I crammed a bite in my mouth. Until my craving was satisfied. Mmmmmm.....then put it back in the box...in the grocery sack...in the back of the fridge.  And that, my friends....is how it's done;)

     As a mom of five children I've learned a lot of things.

     I've learned we sometimes have to make sacrifices that family's with one or two kids don't have to make.  I've learned it takes us three times longer to get ready to go somewhere than it does some of our friends.  I've learned we eat from the dollar menu, and we share drinks.

     I've also learned, if I want something to myself, I better hide to eat it or I can promise you whether it be oysters, spinach, or cheesecake, somebody will want it worse than mommy does.

     Fast forward two days.  The boys discovered my cheesecake, looked at me with very judgemental eyes, grabbed forks and the rest is history.

     They still don't know about the Oreos!