So instead I bring you the story of the orange oven gloves. As you may know, I find it hard to throw away much loved kitchen utensils! There's something sad about throwing away a much loved tool...but I digress...
For Christmas about 4 years ago, I got these orange oven gloves from my parents. To be fair, they were on my Amazon wishlist. To be fair, I didn't think this would be present my parents would pick! They, and by they I mean my Mum, had an interesting concept of what constituted a fun and joy-inducing present!** I scoffed at the time, because I didn't think much of the present. And yes, I realize that this is a 40-something having a toddler-style whinge :-)
Then the next year (maybe 2 or 3 years ago) I got these plastic monster things which are ties and pot holders. I scoffed some more and stuffed them in the kitchen drawer.
In the meantime I came to love my orange gloves and thought of my Mum with a smile each time I put them on. And the boys often find the little monsters and play with them.
And I look back to those years when my Mum was able to think of me, and buy me a present, with an almost unbearable sense of longing and loss.
So the kitchen monsters are now a cherised and sentimental part of my kitchen equipment. But the orange gloves are now a bit hole-y and let the heat in, so I have to let them go.
My mother and her interesting christmas present choices will live in my heart for ever!
**My sister once got writing paper made out of sheep poo, or so she says...She never used it & now feels bad about this :-)
