The worst thing about having children is the death of brunch. (Well, that, and no longer being able to play your vintage Cypress Hill CD when they are within earshot, which is almost always.) Saturday and Sunday — when my only obligation back in the day was brunch — now belong to soccer, basket ball, birthday parties, church, school projects, and other child-centered activities, none of which involve me sitting in peace with a bottomless cup of coffee, the entire New York Times (including the Sunday crossword), and a breakfast meant to be eaten with actual flatware.
Even the rare brunch escape with my husband quickly degenerates into planning for the week ahead — who will drive this or that carpool, when we’ll be able to sit down for a family dinner, and who hasn’t been keeping up with his homework (and which one of us will harass him about it). Hardly fodder for a leisurely meal. And I wouldn’t change it for the world, but I do miss brunch.
On weekdays, I have my chance, as soon as the boys have made it to school safely, bagged lunches in hand, my husband is ensconced in his office, and the dog has settled in for his post-walk morning nap. The house is quiet, Cypress Hill notwithstanding. Finally, I have time to consider what I want for breakfast, and actually make it. A quesadilla with leftover succotash from the night before, an omelet with fresh spinach and rich Manchego cheese, or a perfect soft boiled egg, with salt and pepper applied to each bite. Café au lait in a bowl makes it feel like brunch, and — if someone else has already absconded with the paper — I can always read a book.
If you're a parent, how has parenthood changed your breakfast routine? Do you find yourself eating a "second breakfast" during naptime? Or sneaking other moments to yourself to recapture old breakfast habits?
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My breakfast routine has sped up and is full of fascinating conversation such as "hurry up, please," "finish you milk, please," "we're going to be late!" Sigh . . . to have a "second breakfast during naptime" . . .
I definitely just chug coffee and eat breakfast at naptime. It's really the only 'my time' part of the day and I savor it.
When my twins were in first grade, I used to save up my good breakfasts - grits, poached eggs, challah toast - for when they were gone off to school. But I wanted that on weekends, not when there were things to do after. So, when they turned 10, I bought four small teapots, and introduced Sunday Tea Time. We drink tea with our breakfast, read the paper, do the crosswords, read books... leisurely things, and as they got older, then began to appreciate the beauty of a quiet Sunday brunch, just lazing around the house, with no particular place to go. They're almost 18 now, and we still do it. Those little teapots always make me smile.
Not a parent yet but last week when my boyfriend and I went out to brunch I was telling him how we better enjoy it because in a few years it was going to be all soccer practice on weekends! lol!
my kids love breakfast so I cook it most days. we homeschool so we usually have time for a hot breakfast before they hit the books
I don't eat breakfast, but I do need my coffee in the morning! However, we do eat a big, late supper. All of our kids seem to have adopted our habits, although I do nag them to eat in the mornings.
During the week I'm the one tossing back a coffee and speeding to school just in time for the bell. Each time I intend to eat breakfast when I get home, but my desk always pulls me in, first. On Saturdays, though, I usually stay in bed reading while my husband cooks a hot breakfast for the kids. Sometimes he'll bring mine to me, which makes my "me" time last a little longer (and gives me a break from having oatmeal thrown across the table toward me by the two year old).
Don't worry. Your kids will grow up sooner than you think, and they'll probably start enjoying brunch just as much as you do!
I know once I reached high school age, mandatory weekend activities no longer appealed to me, and my family started having brunch together. It's still something we like to do when we get together.
That is the COOLEST tablecloth!
Lyrical Soul, I love that idea. Bacon sandwiches, coffee and the papers were introduced to me young and I had my own juice and comics bought for the occasion. I still love Saturday mornings with bacon and reading.
@foxeslovelemons Thanks! I found it at Crate and Barrel. :-)
Stealing Lyrical Soul's idea, too. I work, and take my daughter to school then commute to my office. We get up early-early to have a real breakfast (and 2 mugs of coffee for me) before we hit the door at 7:42 a.m. Getting my little one into a laze-around-on-Sunday-morning-and-eat-brunch routine sounds like a worthwhile project for everyone's sanity--but it will have to be early, because yes, ballet class.
I don't eat breakfast either but I do have a café au lait the size of a salad bowl. And I absolutely love soft boiled eggs. And eggs Benedict. And now I'm hungry... :-)
I love lyricalsoul's Sunday Tea Time idea! I think my kids would love it, too. We are about to get the Sunday paper delivered again & this would be a perfect way to enjoy a little bit of calm, electronic free time together.
We have successfully had weekend brunch even with kids. The trick I've found is to invite another family! The kids can eat & play; the adults can eat & catch up. These are most often very casual get togethers & they can start at 8 or 9am & last as long as anyone can stay. I'll offer a variety of food & it's a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.
being a stay at home mom of a toddler and a baby, i can honestly say that i cannot remember the last time i was able to finish ( let alone reach halfway) an entire hot beverage in the morning. As well, i have resigned to eating raisin bran daily because chances are there will be a little person with a spoon digging in my bowl and i may as well make it something somewhat healthy. Gotta love kids:)))
One word: brinner.
Every thursday I do brinner. We love breakfast in our house, so why not have it for dinner? It's the only way I figured how to get my kid to be interested in dinnertime.
I even use it as a bargaining tool-- if she's not good for meals M-W, there's no brannier on thursday. Heh heh.
Ah, yes this would be me! I get the teenager and dh out the door and the next hour or so are all for me. I commute to work, but work part time and go in late to miss the traffic. So between 8 and 9, I might go back to bed, I might surf the internet, I drink coffee, I pack up my lunch. It's good. I'm trying to instill the love of Saturday brunch on my kid, but at this point he'd rather veg out in front of video games.
I eat with my son when he is having hi breakfast ,..:)
My mother always did a sunday brunch, she still does. We didn't have regular weekend activities, so she stays in bed till 12, reading her newspaper, then goes off to the bakery for some fresh croissants, pistolets and what is in english apparently called Danish pastry, a kind of sweet croissants filled with sugar glaze, chocolate or pudding. We stay at the table talking till three in the afternoon with lots of tea and chocolate milk and coffee and it's one of the awesome parts of my week.
Wow, I can totally relate. I miss my leisurely brunches as well, but our hectic family breakfasts on the weekend are special.
During the week, however, I wait until after the hubby has taken the kids to school, and then I sit down for a quiet breakfast by myself. I've recently become addicted to Hulu and Netflix, so many times I'll use this time to catch up on Downton Abbey and Mad Men. Total bliss!