Before becoming a divorced mom, I didn’t know making pancakes for my kids would be so meaningful—but it has become my favorite meal to make them. After the stressful divorce process came the most painful thing: adjusting to a new normal and missing my kids. My life is run by a week-to-week parenting schedule, meaning the kids are with me two full weeks of the month and there are fewer weekends and, of course, less time to make pancakes. It’s crushing, which is why making a simple breakfast for my kids squeezes my heart.
What Makes Pancakes Special To Me
During the school year, the mornings are usually too fast-paced to make a special breakfast. Then, add in my kids’ sports practices and activities in the evenings, and time can feel so limited. These days, I’m lucky if I get to make my kids breakfast twice a month. During these occasions, I take my time in the kitchen and make pancake batter from scratch from my mom’s simple recipe. Or I just use a premade boxed mix like Krusteaz.
Every other week before they arrive, I make sure I have pancake ingredients or a boxed mix ready. Pancakes became my specialty while rebuilding my life as a divorced parent—but I’ll admit I’m not the best cook and my style is basic. I mainly cook for my kids quick and easy picnic style meals, or I air fry chicken and fries for my kids. Sometimes we eat pre-made pizza, frozen lasagna, or simple salmon tacos. I don’t prepare fancy plates.
I love being able to tell my kids that I’ll make them pancakes in the morning, especially when time seems more precious now. During those mornings when I whisk the batter and plop circular shapes onto a pan, I feel like I have it all and everything is just as it should be. Piling pancakes on their plates is like giving a love note to my kids, even though I know time is ticking and soon there will be another goodbye.
That’s why pancakes are my favorite thing to make when we have a clear morning together, since it doesn’t involve a lot of ingredients and is easy to make in just a frying pan. I feel like a rockstar mom when my kids are asking for more, even though it took four burnt ones to get a perfectly fluffy one.
The Recipe That Anchors My Family
While I flip a pancake, I think of my mom, who was also a divorced parent too. I remember her mixing up the batter and cooking pancakes in a big frying pan too. Her hands were full with raising two kids and making pancakes from her simple recipe was special for us. Sometimes she would add vanilla or yogurt to the mixture, and we’d have real maple syrup—it was so yummy and filling. I looked at the image my mom texted me of her recipe she wrote down on a scrap of paper that she always uses. There was something about her pancakes that made me feel loved—a cozy feeling I aim to give my kids with mine.
When I make my own pancake mix from my mom’s recipe, I use a mixing bowl like she does. I scoop the batter out with a measuring cup or a ladle onto a frying pan since I don’t have a griddle.
Right now, my kids don’t care about the extras like blueberries or adding anything—they just want me to make plain pancakes. In my home, pancakes are always devoured quickly but time suddenly seems to slow down as we enjoy each bite together. There’s nothing like the feeling of knowing my kids’ bellies are full with a little reminder of my care. These simple pancakes let them know near or far I’m always here for them.
My Mom’s Pancake Recipe
Makes 16 pancakes
Ingredients
3 cups of flour
2 tablespoons of baking powder
½ teaspoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of salt
¼ cup of sugar (white)
2 ½ cups of milk or water
2 eggs
6 tablespoons of butter melted
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Directions
In a mixing bowl bring together the flour and baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, milk or water, eggs, melted butter, and a teaspoon of vanilla. Whisk everything together. Scoop with a measuring cup or ladle, depending on your pancake size preference. Cook on a frying pan on medium heat or at 350 degrees F on a griddle.