"St. Chocolate's Wort"

Had mine tonight.

It amazes me that I can be exhausted, yawning, feeling low and pondering how I’ll get through the evening…and a couple of chocolates brings about a remarkable improvement in energy level and mood! What is it about the stuff?
Theobromines--or is that coffee? I had that, too.

The day had gone pretty well; it was a little busier than usual. My three year old, Mary Pat, was home sick from her special pre-school. My fifteen year-old, Marie, needed input on her homeschool plan for the week. The farrier showed up and Marie and I took turns holding horses and tending to three preschoolers…the list is quite long. I got really tired by the end of the afternoon, and over-reacted when our thirteen year old sprang a “mandatory school activity” on me 20 minutes before its start time.

Earlier in the week a friend remarked on her Facebook that it puzzled her how she can hold it together through a stressful day and then a seemingly insignificant event sends her over the edge. The post produced wonderful comments of support and understanding. Truthfully, it made me feel better. I didn’t think at the time to recommend “St. Chocolate’s Wort” to her.

The aforementioned thirteen year-old, Susanna, was responsible for my “medication,” though we had chocolate in the house. My Austrian grandmother, Susanna’s namesake, had a tradition in her family of celebrating St. Nicholas’ feast day. It is really fun: the children leave their shoes out the eve of December 6^th and in the morning find them filled with chocolates and little gifts. We revived the tradition in our family when Bruce and I married. It’s a wonderful opportunity to teach the children about the real Nicholas of history, who was present at the Council of Nicea, fought the Arian Heresy, and became a great bishop. St. Nicholas…St. Nick…Santa Claus…one in the same. The Coca-Cola Company had something to do with his additional attributes around the turn of the century, and a new legend was born complete with a sleigh and reindeer and a North Pole. I grew up with that, too, but there is something really satisfying about teaching the children about the real man. A generous man who loved Jesus and gave just about all he had for the good of others.

I felt rotten about acting out like a two year-old toward Susanna; later, she was the one who came home early from the school event with a box of chocolates for her family. A warm hug and apology at her homecoming soothed my soul like the chocolate soothed my psyche.

Maybe I could medicate myself three times a day. Hmmm. Maybe not good for the weight. Moderation in everything, I guess. And plenty of hugs and giving and forgiving.

Happy St. Nicholas Day,
from the Abbey Farm