love. via sour dough bread.

I love my kids.

But that’s nothing unusual – right?

Moms love their kids.

It’s kind of our job.

But you know what is extra special and humbling and wonderful?

When other people love your kids.

When other humans in your life nourish your kid’s strengths and encourage her talents.

That’s lovely.

That’s beautiful.

Mosely loves to bake bread.

She has been trying a handful of recipes off and on for years. Some with wild success – rosemary bread, for example. Some with not-her-favorite results. Bread is finicky. Dough rising is affected by temperature and humidity and length of time. 

I’ve never been a pro at it myself.

But Mosely loves the process and the experience of baking bread.

(And we love Mosely so we love what Mosely loves. It also helps that we are a house of bread addicts and the smell of freshly baked bread is amazing and when it’s served with melted butter while it’s still steaming fresh from the oven ….. we can’t get enough.)

This year at our annual July Fourth at the Farm, Mosely must have had a conversation with Uncle Jon. A conversation about bread and hobbies and goodness knows what else.

I didn’t hear about the conversation and I didn’t talk to Jon about any of this.

But when we returned from Virginia to our home in South Carolina and Jon and his family returned to their home in Texas, a package arrived at our door.

It was addressed to Mosely. From Uncle Jon.

When she opened the package – there was little bit of magic inside.

It was a kit for creating sour dough bread – a complete adorable kit, with directions, sour dough starter and a lovely King Arthur crock in which to store the starter.

Having sour dough starter is little like having a seventh kid – or a pet. It’s quite involved to remember to care for it in a timely fashion. Naturally, Mosely named it.  (Fred, in case you’re curious.)

And we’ve already enjoyed many many loaves of delicious bread and a batch of sour dough pancakes. Next up she wants to try sour dough bread bowls and pizza dough. I want her to try sour dough cinnamon rolls.

It’s a personal responsibility, a great skill for her to continue to grow. It’s fun to see her excel at something she loves. It’s a sweet offering she brings to the family table and to her friends as she shares her creations.

And – it’s a genuine kindness to me to see my Mosely be loved well by our framily. It’s been a new bond for her and Jon to share recipes and ideas – to send photos of the bread she makes.  

People loving your kids. It’s a big deal. It does all the good things – it creates community. It fights loneliness. It generates good stewardship and it makes her feel special and loved and important. All the things I know she deeply is, but all the things every teenager – every human being – can never be reminded of enough.

You guys. Love somebody else’s kid today. Hire them to mow your grass. Invite them out for coffee.  Teach them to knit. Take them on a family day with your clan. Write them a note. Offer a compliment. 

It all matters so much.

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