I'm allergic to the month of May. It's not a "breaking out into hives" sort of reaction. There are no signs of anaphylaxis. It's simply an "I just can't catch my breath" response, undoubtedly brought on by the confluence of too many end-of-school year calendar items bumping up against the transition into summer. It's all too much.
This is the time of year when churning out meals on a schedule feels harder. When you might find yourself agreeing with your 5th grader that leftover cake is indeed the breakfast of champions or with your kindergartener that yes, brushing teeth before school is purely optional.
But having too much on my plate, being a little unglued, doesn't mean I get to shirk my duties as a mother. There are still people to be cared for. To be ferried. To be read to. And always, always, always, to be fed.
Do you think they'd miss just one little meal? I find myself wondering.
But then a small burst comes. Energy. An awareness that time passes quickly. That equilibrium will return.
I get a bit of my groove back. Enough to make cookies for the end-of-year potluck. To fill out that camp form. To drive to the final soccer practice. To mother.
And always, always, always, to feed people.
Like this snack, which you should make and share with your child, knowing that every moment does count. Even the overwhelming ones.
And summer is nearly here.
Trail Mix Apple Stack
Here's what you'll need:
Apple
Peanut butter (or any nut, seed, or soy butter)
Salted peanuts (or other favorite nuts, coconut, or seeds)
Dried cranberries (or raisins or dried cherries)
Core the apple with an apple corer or melon baller.
Lay the apple on its side and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices.
Assemble your ingredients.
Spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the slices. Top with a few chocolate chips, a few peanuts, and a few dried cranberries.
If this is up your alley, you might also like my recipe for Crispy Applewiches or this post on past end-of-school-year kookiness.
This post originally appeared on Katie's blog, Mom's Kitchen Handbook, where you can find recipes and tips for feeding a family. You can also follow her on Instagram @KatieMorford