Cafeteria Rolls & 10 Things I Love About Being a Mom

Bunmi
Dec 3
3 min read

Yesterday we made Lunch Lady Cafeteria Rolls. According to the recipe, they're called Cafeteria Rolls because they were the standard lunch roll in the 80s in schools far and wide. I was in public school eating cafeteria food in the late 80s and 90s, but don't remember seeing these pillowy soft rolls.

We did have the BEST rectangle pizza that I still think about to this day.

The colder weather has rolled in which means baking feels extra cozy. My 16 year-old and I have been baking quite a bit together. I highly reccomend baking with your teenager. It's a great way to bond. Teens are FUNNY and they'll keep you laughing.

I love the random things that come out of their mouths. The sassy stuff, the deep thoughts, the questions about life and how things work. They're not little babies but still children and the contrast is delightful.

A lot of teens like cooking. They really do! Of course, I'm generalizing. I don't know every teenager, but has anyone else found that teens are super eager to whip up things in the kitchen?

I have really mixed feelings about TikTok (my husband calls it the "spy app"), but one thing it's great for is giving teens recipe ideas. There are so many 60-second videos of teenagers making all sorts of things and it gets them excited to recreate them.

Some of the recipes are super weird to me. Like onion boils (a seafood boil but just onions) and sweet potato PMS brownies. But my 16 y/o and I have ended up making all kinds of things we really like. And the bonding over flour and butter...well, that's the real treat.

These rolls weren't on TikTok, but my daughter and I still had a blast making them. We made honey butter (just honey and butter mixed together) to go with them.

Lunch Lady Cafeteria Rolls.

Recipe: https://www.mystoryinrecipes.com/blog-posts/lunch-lady-cafeteria-rolls

Lately, I've just felt super grateful to be a mom. It's so wonderful. Yes, it's hard always giving, explaining, teaching, helping, washing, moving things from the washer to the dryer and then the basket to the appropriate location, but I know it sounds cliche, but it's a blessing.

It's awesome to belly laugh with your kids. It's feels amazing to watch the learn, grow, and see their personalities bloom right in front of your eyes.

I love how we have different bonds with each of our kids.

My youngest and I love to watch movies together. It's our special thing. He's an artist, but also a math whiz and I love how his mind works. I also love watching him draw and paint. His talent takes my breath away.

My second-born daughter is spicy, gentle in her mannerisms, polished, blunt, and ridiculously creative. She keeps me on my toes and I NEVER know what's going to come out of her mouth. She's hilarious. We bond over food and a love of candles and pretty knick knacks.

My oldest is my sweet & wise sage. She runs as deep as an ocean. Her heart is like a pure pearl. She is also extremely creative and a talented illustrator. I love her heart for others- she feels what other people feel and it's created a heart of gold.

I love how all of my kids have such different relationships with God. I love how they all see life differently and have different goals. I love how they have overlaps in their personalities that make them great friends. I love the glimmers of myself that I can sometimes see in them.

It's always funny when you catch yourself saying, "Why are you so stubborn?" and immediately feel God laughing and looking at you.

Being a mom gives you a front row seat to God's handiwork in another human being. It's like watching a gorgeous sunset, but all day long. I love how raising children gives you a heart like the Jesus, the best Shepherd who loves His lambs fiercly.

The world might see being a mom as a waste of time or something to get past so the important work can begin, but those of us who know better, know better. I love how motherhood feels like the best kept secret, a joy that so many don't understand.

All they can see are expenses, diapers, or screaming kids, but those of us in it know there is so much more. So many priceless moments, the type that overflow our hearts and we can't even explain.