Jessica weighs in
We talked tonight about answering questions about Madison’s adoption and she thinks being open is a good idea. Because, as she said, that’s Madison’s birth story. And we feel like the best we can do is model comfort talking about it and respect her boundaries as she grows old enough to share them with us.
So did I tell you guys? She’s gonna host Madison’s birthday party at the end of next month and her challenge, which she chose to accept, is to make a vegan cake that even my mother will eat. My mother’s favorite cake is a thing they make at the grocery here, which she fondly calls the “HoHo cake.” It tastes like a big Hostess Ding Dong. Jessica is brave indeed.
Can you go for cupcakes instead of a cake?? The Voluptuous Vegan has a junk food chocolate cupcake which will taste like a Ho Ho. I’ll pass on the recipe, but if vegan baking is here to stay in your lifestyle, you may want to get the Voluptuous Vegan cupcake book. Then you’ll be set for life.
i’ve found that being very matter of fact about my daughter’s diabetes and making it just another part of her has been a great model for her, and for the other people in her life. the kids and adults around her don’t think of it as a big deal and think of it as perfectly normal and natural since we just talk about it normally. she’s presented it to her class, written about it for a science bulletin board in school, answered questions from various people, etc.
sometimes, she will ask us not to talk about it, or if someone asks ‘what is that?’ about her blood glucose meter or insulin pump then i will look to her and say “do you want to explain, or do you want me to?” either she’ll explain, ask me to, or ask me not to, depending on who it is and her mood. we find that her willingness to be open more depends on the way the person is asking it - if it is a friendly kid, she will answer and they’ll get into a long conversation about it. if it is a nosy kid who is being pushy, she’ll more often beg off.
meanwhile, the default is that it is a part of her, and we treat it the same way as other parts of her life. and she treats it the same way as anything else - like she may not want to talk about school with a nosy stranger, or may want to get into a long discussion about her favorite subject with another kid who loves art or science.
she’s 9 now. this may all change when she gets to be a teen, but maybe not more so than anything else.
(sorry for babbling, but i think there is a parellel with treating adoption as a natural part of madison’s life)
I love it how Jessica is so committed to Madison and how you don’t block them from knowing each other.
mmmcake.
My carrot cake is vegan, so I know a good cake can be made without eggs or butter. True, I cheat when vegans are involved and use store-bought “cream cheese” icing, which not too surprisingly doesn’t have any dairy in it at all.
I have been trying to call you. Will you be around this afternoon?
I’m sure she can pull it out! Jennifer McCann over at The Vegan Lunch Box has even a Vegan recipe for Twinkies!
Wow, that is so awesome!
I can’t wait to hear how the cake turns out.
I just know Jessica will pull it off with panache.
However, I’m not sure I spelled panache correctly.
Delurking to offer this recipe and vegan recipe website…
http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=124
I also recommend anything by Myrna Kornfeld and her vegan recipes
I went to a vegan wedding and the cake was….fine.