Almond Joy Smoothie

Here’s a riddle for you. If Scarlett goes to school 5 days a week but each day Laura has at least 10 things to remember to pack in Scarlett’s school knapsack (permission slip, snack, water bottle, weekly school planner, snap words’ notebook, shared reading folder, library bag, homework, loose change for math project, to name a few) and we have only 15 minutes to get out the door, but Scarlett does one or all of the following for 18 minutes (laying on the floor complaining of a stomach ache, dawdling with her headbands, dancing in front of the mirror or looking for a pair of socks to wear), how many mornings a week are we late? Did you say 5? Ding! Ding! Ding! You are correct! Johnny, please tell the SPC reader what they have won.

Photo by Maya Visnyei
Artwork by Scarlett

Sadly, this isn’t just a fun math riddle. It’s my life. At 8:45 am when the school bell rings, I’m not one of the parents who strolls up to the class line and drops my child off for a day of delicious learning. I’m also not one of the parents who arrived early so her child can race around breathing the fresh morning air as I spend a few casual minutes exchanging playground banter with other parents. At best I see the tail end of that class line trailing up the stairs to their classroom. Otherwise, I’m racing, two stairs at a time, up the stairwell trying to get Scarlett to her coat hook before the second bell rings and definitely before ‘Oh Canada’ blares from the school’s PA system. If ‘Oh Canada” starts, I’m toast. Then I have to stop in my tracks, stand still and sing along for the whole anthem. I. Can’t. Leave.

This whole morning hamster wheel of hell is one of the things I try every day to simplify. I already like to make breakfast the night before (slow cooker oatmeal any one?), but if I fall down on that morning life saver, then a smoothie is where I head.

This smoothie happens to be a family favourite: 1) because it’s from an organic market and cafe that we love and 2) because it’s just so damn good. The market calls it the Almond Joy because it’s made with almond butter, but the fact it’s thick like a milkshake makes me happy. If I pair it with a banana and maybe even a piece of toast, it’s very filling and super satisfying. Since this smoothie is also quick to make, it’s easier for us to get out the door, making us almost on time.