Pastries and Parenting

Last Saturday morning we were feeling a little homesick for France. I had recently heard about a bakery downtown that had comparable French delicacies so we decided to try it. "Gourmandise" did not let us down. Pricey, yes. Calories...definitely worth it. The tarte aux framboises (raspberry tart) was heavenly. As we came home with a box full of desserts for dinner, croissants for breakfast and baguette to go with lunch we were all pacified for our French longings.

I've been dreaming about my bakery back in Bourron Marlotte ever since. This morning my BFF Lisa called to catch up. I mentioned that I had a new spot I wanted to take her to lunch. She happened to be available today and so was I so we seized the opportunity and met up. It was terrific to talk all about kids, home, life, etc over grilled pannini and French onion soup. Just as we were about to order a dessert to share the elementary school called to say that Lilly was sick with a bad headache. Rats. I hate it when my babies are sick and I really hate it when it interrupts dessert! We decided to take something on the go and head out to pick her up. On our way the school called again to say she had thrown up all over. Now I was really perplexed. Lilly didn't show any signs of sickness this morning. In fact she had gone to a little birthday party at McDonalds with her friend before school. When I showed up at the school she looked terrible. Grey and exhausted I gently put her in the car and drove carefully home. I put her into her comfy pajamas and cuddled with her until she fell asleep (this took about 2 minutes).

Lucky for us she woke up an hour and a half later feeling like her bouncy vibrant self. I kept asking her if her tummy was better. She told me her tummy never hurt. It was her head that hurt. It had been hurting ever since she banged it twice at McDonald's playland and had to put ice on it! Lightbulb moment!!!! She had a concussion and I was clueless. Needless to say I'm so grateful that she snapped out of it and that all is well. Parenting really is a blind game some days!
I couldn't resist this little chocolate hedgehog at the bakery. Hedgehogs remind me of France. Our neighbors even had one that lived in their backyard. He was also very delicious filled with chocolate cake, chocolate mousse and raspberry filling. This little treat made all the kids smile when they came home from school...including Lilly!