Kneading Tradition

We’ve had an ongoing saga in our family that I want to document for future generations. This is the story of a determined girl who insisted on getting her way. We could all learn a thing or two from her.

In early October, we were hosting a family dinner and discussing Thanksgiving food assignments. Sierra, Taylor, and I were all together at the end of the table. I asked Sierra to bring dinner rolls, and she agreed but said she would buy them this year instead of making them from scratch. Without missing a beat, Charlotte interjected herself into the conversation, looked directly at her mother, and said, “No. You’re making rolls for Thanksgiving.”

We didn’t even realize she was paying attention. The three of us were speechless. Her statement wasn’t a question; it was a command.

We later laughed about the episode, but Charlotte was very serious about her proclamation. For the next several weeks, she hounded her mother about making rolls for Thanksgiving. She knew exactly what she wanted. She attempted to describe a roll she ate while attending a celebration of life with us earlier in the summer. Her recall of the event and description of the roll was extraordinary. She even resorted to emotional tactics by saying, “But Mommy, it’s a tradition.” (It’s not. Sierra only made homemade rolls once for a holiday.)

Sierra realized that this was very important to Charlotte, so they spent one Saturday morning making dinner rolls together. Charlotte was in heaven, not only making the rolls she longed for, but also helping Mommy in the kitchen. The next day, I asked her how they turned out, and she said they were a masterpiece! She was also happy to tell me that she didn’t have to share them at Thanksgiving. They were all for her.

Charlotte’s unwavering determination turned a simple family interaction into a cherished memory. Her persistence reminded us all of the power of speaking up for what matters, even if it’s just about dinner rolls. May we all have a little bit of Charlotte’s spirit when it comes to the things that matter most.