Peanut Butter And Jelly Tortilla

It's 10:00 am on a Sunday morning. I'm sitting at my laptop typing these words out. Next to me is a gorgeous peanut butter and jelly tortilla.

That's right, I said peanut butter and jelly tortilla. Not sandwich. Not muffin. Not bagel. Tortilla.

The peanut butter is store brand chunky. A few preservatives and a little bit of sugar, but I stayed away from my preferred brand: Trader Joe's. Wanted to make sure there was enough for the girls.

The jelly is actually peach preserves. Trappist Monk Jelly. Made by real Trappist monks in St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. Great stuff.

The tortilla is just a plain old flour tortilla. Nothing special. My preferred vehicle for peanut butter and jelly is 12 grain bread, which we are now out of. I was going to use the last bagel but Jillian laid claim to it. I shouldn't have asked if anyone else wanted it.

Could have gone with cereal. Could have even made some eggs. But I felt like having that PB & J combo this morning to go with my protein shake. So I said, "Let's go crazy, Larry! Let's use those tortillas for something other than fake Mexican food!"

I took out the ingredients. Lovingly spread my peanut butter one one side, preserves on the other side. Stopped to admire my handiwork before rolling the whole thing up.

That's when my 12 year old walked into the kitchen. Right on cue she blurted out, "That's disgusting!"

"Excuse me?"

"A peanut butter and jelly tortilla? That's gross!"

A lesser man would have folded under the pressure. Or got defensive and taken his daughter to the mat.

But I'm big! I'm strong! I stood up to the ridicule of Sarah, the Amazing Pre-Teen.

Well, sort of.

I actually started to rationalize with her. We're out of bread. Mom's coming home later and she'll make a food shopping run. Besides a tortilla is really just a blank canvas for what you put on it.

I caught myself mid-sentence. I was explaining my choice of breakfast to a 12 year old. To anyone.

I smiled. "Sarah, you just earned yourself five bucks."

"Huh?"nn(This is big news. She's snarfing around the house looking for paid jobs to do so she can save up for the guitar she wants. She has to pay half.)

"Honey, I've been looking for something to write about. I just caught myself telling you why it's OK to have PB & J on a tortilla. I don't have to explain my choices to you or anyone else. I'm WAY past the need for approval.

"And you reminded me. I've got something to write about. Five bucks.

"Of course you realize I'm putting you in the article as the person who made fun of my breakfast."

"I don't care, Dad. As long as I get the five bucks."nn*** ***

Another "You see, Timmy" moment, as Dene calls them. Don't explain, don't complain. Eat whatever you like.

Put NONE of your energy into justifying what you like and what you do.

Put SOME of your energy into listening to the thoughts and opinions of others you respect.

Put SOME of your energy into studying what people you admire do. Copy what works for you, ignore what doesn't.

Put ALL of your energy into completely enjoying what you're doing in the moment.

Getting dressed, taking my other kid out, and stopping at the convenience store for some bread.