Another baking story…a few years ago, my friend Mandy heard me say that I had never baked cupcakes.  Never! My grandmother was famous for cakes, but never cupcakes.  My mother is an incredible cook, but never went in for baking.  My dad bakes, but not cupcakes.  Cupcakes and me, our paths just didn’t cross that often. That year, for my birthday, Mandy sent me a full cupcake kit–pans, recipes, tiny frosting spatulas, paper liners, sprinkles.  I was delighted!  

I decided to try it out with my stepdaughter, who had just turned seven.  We started baking a batch of vanilla sprinkle cupcakes one Sunday night for her to share at school the next day.  As we battered and splattered, I said, “I’m really enjoying making cupcakes with you.  I never did this with my mom.”  She said, “Really?  Why not?”

I thought about it (and my new responsibilities as a parent) and answered, “Well, my mom worked and had three kids to take care of, so she really didn’t have time to make cupcakes.”  Then I worried that that made it sound like having a career takes all the fun out of life.  So I added, “There are all kinds of choices that women can make about what to do in life.  Some moms work and some moms stay home with kids.  Some moms do both.  Some moms are cupcake kind of moms and some aren’t.  The important thing to remember is that you can do whatever you want to do with your life!”  Well, that was a mouthful.  

She paused in mid-frosting and said, “My mom’s going to cure malaria.”

I laughed and said, “And when she does, you and I will make cupcakes to celebrate!”