The Magic of Long, Luxurious Breakfasts Any Day of the Week
When was the last time you woke up with nothing on your agenda, whipped up some homemade waffles, brewed a pot of your favorite coffee, and enjoyed a long, luxurious family breakfast?
If it’s been a while, picture this:
The waffles come off the iron hot and sweet, and you top yours with fresh berries.
(okay, so they were frozen just a few minutes before and you thawed them with hot water - they were still fresh recently)
The coffee tastes like it was made by angels, and you can have as much as you want.
The kids sense something’s up and come strolling into the kitchen.
(Even cell phones and cartoons have to bow to the smell of fresh waffles.)
When they see the waffles, their faces light up.
They give you a big hug and start pouring the orange juice.
In minutes, everyone is relaxing, eating, drinking, and chatting away.
(and you start thinking about who you can convince to do the dishes)
The caffeine makes your brains fire out new ideas and questions, and you connect in ways you haven’t in months - hearing what’s really going on and what they really think.
And they know there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.
(Then they volunteer to do the dishes because they love you for this amazing breakfast.)
If you’re thinking a morning like that is too good to be true for your family - that you’re always too busy or your family just isn’t like that but you REALLY wish it was - I want to tell you a secret:
There’s absolutely a way - and you can do it your way.
(Also, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or stressful)
Here are a few ideas:
Start with a trial one lazy Saturday morning.
If you’re not a morning person, prepare everything the night before - or do it for dinner instead.
Try a monthly “First Saturday Pancake Morning” or “Second Sunday Brunch”.
It doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated - KEEP IT SIMPLE.
If you’re a mama of little tiny ones, you may have to get up several hours before everyone else so that you can actually enjoy it. That’s okay.
You may have to skip something to make this happen - or ask your hubby or teenagers for help. That’s okay, too.
Here’s how it works for my family:
I don’t love to cook, but I know the only way to get my crew together some mornings is to make a big breakfast. So, when the long, luxurious breakfast mood strikes me, I sneak into my little one’s room when he wakes up and say, “Is it a crepe day or a waffle day?” Then, I ask him to lend a hand and we cook together. By the time his dad and brother show up, we’re excited and already stuffing our tummies with something good. Because we homeschool and work from home, we try this out on random days of the week, pulling out books and book chats with our breakfast. Often, we realize about two hours later that we might need to change out of our pajamas. But we’re most successful at this on the weekends when there are fewer work emails and we can leave the school books on the shelf.
Remember: IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE FANCY. Instant-pot oats can work just as well as pancakes, or even instant grits or cereal.
Before you know it, your kids will have memories of long, luxurious breakfasts with you just like those memories you have with your parents and grandparents calling you to the table with the smell of sausage, eggs, and pancakes (or if you’re like me, a roll of Pillsbury orange cinnamon rolls).
You already know the good stuff is right there around the table with you - her smile, his messy hair, those contagious giggles.
Here’s your permission slip to slow it down and see how long it can last.
Disclaimer: The long, luxurious breakfast may not work the first time you try it, and it certainly won’t work every time, but when it does, it’s magic for building memories and relationships with your family that last a long time.
(Also, your coffee may not actually taste like it was made by angels, but you can keep grinding those gourmet beans and pretend, right?)