Well friends, I've just read an article that says Western Canadians can expect one of the top three coldest winters in the last 20 years. As someone who moved from the sunny shores of Australia to Canada, I can assure you that the article was not read with joy nor excitement.
As I wrote in an earlier article, the seasons of life, whether in nature or personally, will come and go and I realize that there is nothing neither you nor I can do anything to change what lies ahead. Rather, we need to prepare and equip ourselves for what is predicted to be a long and very cold winter.
With that in mind, I am reminded about the breakfast I prepared for our family this morning. I like to send my kids off to school well fed, with something stuck to their ribs. Studies prove that children who have a good breakfast are able to learn better, to focus more and to simply manage their day better. Studies also show that fewer and fewer children are arriving at school well fed. Schools and communities are now offering breakfast programs because the need for breakfast is so important.
Getting up in the morning is a struggle for most people. We seem to be over charged and under-rested; it's just a symptom of the society we are living in.
I have made a choice to make sure I get up earlier than my children every morning. I do this for a number of reasons:
1) The morning is my favourite time of the day. I love the quiet of the morning and it allows me time to focus for my day and prepare.
2) I love making sure my children have a good breakfast and that I pack them a healthy lunch.
It takes planning and discipline. Discipline, because many days (especially cold winter mornings) hitting the snooze button feels like the right thing to do yet it never is. Today, as I rose from my warm, comfy bed, I could feel the chill in the air. I knew today was a day for a warm bowl of goodness.
Yes, today kicked off what will be many mornings where my children will be greeted with a warm bowl of porridge - porridge that is lightly sprinkled with brown sugar and finished off with a splash of warm milk. This, coupled with a slice of buttered toast, in my books, is the best way to start a chilly fall or cold winter day.
Porridge is a wonderful meal that can be made ever so simply or, if you want to jazz it up you can do so with flax, fibre, raisins, cranberries, nuts or anything else that works for your family. It may seem like a lot of work in the morning but really it only takes a few minutes longer than preparing a bowl of cereal. Also, if you're clever, you can learn how to make slow cooker porridge (I've never mastered this) which means it cooks overnight and is ready to go when you wake up.
A warm bowl of goodness is the perfect way to send your children off to school when there's a chill in the air. Not only is it good for their growing bodies, it helps in so many other ways and it's budget friendly. Make a little extra and treat yourself ... trust me, you won't regret it.
As we all prepare for the cold winter mornings ahead, make sure you add oats to your shopping list.
P.S. Stay tuned next week, I'll be sharing information about our family room Princess Cruise that will be setting sail March 24 from Fort Lauderdale ... exciting and everyone is invited!
Susan J. Sohn
susanjsohn.com/thefamilyroom
[email protected]
