HAVE YOU EVER read Laura Numeroff’s children’s picture books, If You Give a Pig a Pancake or If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?
The storylines basically follow the premise that if you give someone something, they’ll want something else. Or one thing leads to another. For example, the mouse in Numeroff’s story asks for milk with his cookie then wants to look in a mirror and see if he has a milk mustache, etc. The pig needs syrup with his pancake, but gets so sticky he wants a bath, with bubbles, etc.
See how that works?
Now let’s apply that to my life, with this story:
My microwave oven, useful for cooking & experiments.
If your 18-year-old son hauls your microwave oven to his Advanced Chemistry class so he can measure the speed of light by melting marshmallows, you will need to find another way to prepare your morning oatmeal, or choose another food for breakfast.
If you opt for sugary cereal, then you’ll break your personal commitment to consume oatmeal each morning because your Uncle John, who eats oatmeal daily, told you doing so lowers cholesterol.
You’ll also derail your plan to a healthier and slimmer you.
By skipping the oatmeal, which you have found satisfyingly filling, you will find yourself reaching for a mid-morning snack. And, if you reach for a mid-morning snack…
See how that storyline goes? And all because of an Advanced Chemistry experiment.
I’m all about education, but if I don’t get my microwave back soon, I’ll…
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
….have to go find a great deal on a new one!
Maybe he’s secretly attempting to pirate away the microwave for college.
My hubby loves oatmeal, not a taste I aquired unless you count the instant stuff that the Dr. told me is a no no ‘cuz its so high in salt. 😦 He makes it on the stove and for what ever weird reason he always asks me if I want some. You would think after 25 years he would know. 😉 I hope you get your microwave back soon so you can get back on track. Have a wondeful weekend!!
The first few days of eating oatmeal, I thought, “I cannot do this. I cannot eat this stuff.” But then, after about a week, I decided it wasn’t so bad after all. I was acquiring a taste for it. Initially I stirred brown sugar into the oatmeal to sweeten it up. But now I don’t do that any more. Don’t need the sugar. Instead, I’ll toss in berries.
I do not eat the individual, packaged oatmeal, but rather the type that comes in the cylinder-shaped container. Cheaper and better for me.
I love hearing your sense of humor in your words!
It’s not all that often when humor seeps into my writing. So thank you.
Love it! I mean…the writing…not your situation!!!
Thanks. I still can’t believe I allowed my son to drag my microwave to school. But he’s the third child. What can I say?
My microwave started sending sparks a couple of months ago. I think I’ve been irradiated! I promptly disposed of it (cutting off the plug so nobody would try to use it) and have been microwave-free since then.
I’ve been making my oatmeal (or five-grain cereal with rye, oats, flaxseed, barley, and triticale) on the stove. I’ve been using the stove a lot lately…. It’s kind of slow.
I have my microwave back, but quickly realized just how much I used it when I didn’t have it. Good plan to toss that sparking microwave.