• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Shop

The One Thing I’d Tell My Mom

January 30, 2014 by Joy the Baker 62 Comments

the flags

Dear Mom,

Could you tell I was crying as you dropped me off at the airport  last Saturday?  I think we were talking about french toast.  Important stuff.  That was me trying to disguise my tears.

As I got out of the car and unloaded my bags, you could sense the little shake in my voice and I could see the tears in your eyes.  We hugged, you offered wonderful words of encouragement through your tears, and I walked away quickly trying to disguise the tears in my eyes. I left that moment thinking only of how much I still need your love and your lessons. I’m grown, I think I have it all figured out, and I’m just so mistaken.

I was humbled by the reality of how much I still need you.

Then… off to this beautiful Uganda.

hajarah and sumaya

Fast forward to today.

Today I sat in the home of a mother and daughter much like us.  Well, like you and me except their circumstances are different.  Hajarah and her mother Sumaya live in a 5×7′ shack in one of Uganda’s most dangerous areas, the Katwe Slum.  Hajarah is gentle, articulate, curious, and funny.  The truth is, they struggle.  I don’t even know how to talk about the horrors their relationship has had to endure.  Advertising the details here feels like more than I can say.

Circumstance aside (which seems totally hard to put aside) Hajarah is just a fourteen year old girl.  She’s a girl who is carelessly toying with her independence in a dangerous dangerous place.  She’s a girl who likes short skirts despite her mother’s insistence on modesty.  She’s a girl who is vulnerable to peer pressure, wants to skip school, and thinks her mother is 100% not right about anything ever.

I thought back to that time in our relationship, Mom, when I slammed doors, was stubborn and lippy, and thought with all my might that I didn’t need you or the gracious lessons you had taught me.

That’s what I shared with Hajarah.  I just wanted her to know that I understand. I understand how it feels to know that your friends are more important and more correct than your mother.  That I understood that defying your mother feels like it has no consequences, or what it is to take the deep love from your mother for granted.  It’s just that… in her circumstance, the margin for error  in life is much smaller and the consequences are much more harsh.

Hajarah is part of the Compassion program with 251 other children in the Katwe Slum.  There she can get guidance from project leaders outside of the chaos of the slum.  There’s healthcare, spiritual guidance, and tender advice that can cut through a really poisonous pressure and dangers that exists within the slum.  In that way, Compassion supports Sumaya in raising Hajarah.  Being in their house and sharing Sumaya’s tears and concerns, it’s so clear that support is absolutely critical at this point in Hajarah’s life.

I thought back to you, Mom… how much I continue to find comfort in your love.  Thank you!  I want that same peace for Hajarah and other girls like her sooner rather than later.

You can make a difference in the life of a young girl by sponsoring a child.  I’ve seen it work just today.

More from Uganda from Chatting at the Sky, The Nester, Jeff Goins, and Shaun Groves.

Compassion provided me a link to share with you.  I am in no way compensated for your sponsorship or donation.  I love you and I’m glad you’re here with me on this journey. 

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « This Place We Share
Next Post: Things I Learned In Uganda Big and Small »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. cheyenne

    February 7, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    beautifully written. if there’s one thing i know for sure, it is that even now at 22, I still need my mom, perhaps more than ever. and i can’t image that changing, ever!

    Reply
  2. Long Distance Baking

    February 6, 2014 at 11:11 pm

    Yep…you succeeded in making me cry! I too, still tear up when leaving my mom at the airport (but try to hide it, of course). Love all these Uganda posts. Thank you for your love and willingness to share this part of your life with us.

    Reply
  3. Maria

    February 6, 2014 at 2:09 pm

    I have to say, that although I really like the help they’re given, it feels a bit like pressuring them into doing what your faith believes to be true. Maybe Harajah shouldn’t be modest, because that kind of seems like you’re asking her to cover up, as if it were the RIGHT way to act.
    I’m really enjoying this posts, Joy. But I’d like to highlight how important it is that people that help, don’t push their faith and thoughts onto others as a way of payment for their kindness.

    Reply
  4. Kristen Strong

    February 5, 2014 at 10:38 am

    This post just rocked me. This right here: “It’s just that… in her circumstance, the margin for error in life is much smaller and the consequences are much more harsh.” That’s it exactly. Ugandan girls and their moms and western girls and their moms share relational similarities, yet the consequences for poor decisions can look vastly different.

    Thank you for this, Joy. For your words, your ‘yes’, your life. You are an unbelievable gift.

    Reply
  5. Rocky Mountain Woman

    February 4, 2014 at 4:59 pm

    As a mom, this touched my soul. As a daughter it made me miss my sweet mother so much…

    xxoo,

    RMW

    Reply
  6. Kayla

    February 4, 2014 at 9:10 am

    Feeling the feels.

    I was awful to my mom when I was younger and while she didn’t let me walk all over her, she took it with grace. Moms are incredible human beings all over the world and I can honestly say I never really thought about the mom/teenager situation in a place like Uganda so thank you for this post.

    Reply
  7. Ashley

    February 3, 2014 at 10:02 pm

    Just signed up to sponsor a child in Rwanda. We’ve known of Compassion for a while, and your trip reminded us of their significance. We traveled to Democratic Republic of Congo in 2010 and know some things of the history of the region. Thanks for having the courage to go and share your experiences with us.

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      February 4, 2014 at 12:08 pm

      you are wonderful!

      Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

An Update from Joy

Hi friends! Thanks for letting me pop into your Saturday. What are you up to this weekend? If I were to guess the goodness of your life, I’d say you’re putting an elf on a shelf, drying oranges slices into ornaments, and going for an epic no-budget Trader Joe’s run. Since I have a habit…

Read More

My 12 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

We want to make sure your holiday cookie tin is the best because you are the best. This is not a competition, but obviously, if we were to momentarily think of this as a competition –  you have to win. We’re giving you only the best 12 holiday cookie recipes ensuring instant victory at any…

Read More

Holiday Gift Guide 2022 from Team Joy the Baker

It’s that time of year, when the world falls in love! Every song you hear, seems to say, “Get me gift cards.”  But, while we may be last minute wrapper paper purchasers, we are not gift card givers.  At least… not yet.  We still have a few weeks to be our most thoughtful selves and…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.

Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

Baked pull apart garlic bread baked in a loaf pan.

Erin’s Roasted Garlic Herb Pull-Apart Bread

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

Raspberry linzer cookie recipe stacked on baking sheet.

Raspberry Lemon Linzer Cookies

Iced Oatmeal Cookies layered on a cooling rack.

Eggnog Iced Oatmeal Cookies

My 12 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
🙋‍♀️ if you buy bananas just so they can 🙋‍♀️ if you buy bananas just so they can languish on the counter long enough to be baked. ⁣
⁣
These Almond Flour Banana Bread cookies are stacked with walnuts and chocolate and one of the best way I know how to celebrate a speckled banana. Find the recipe linked in the profile! xo #bananabread #glutenfreerecipes #joythebaker #cookies #bakingrecipes
Just tryna get the most cheese on my most simple s Just tryna get the most cheese on my most simple small-batch bagel recipe. Get in on this with me: ⁣
⁣
2 Easy No Yeast Bagels⁣
1/2 cup self-rising flour⁣
4 tablespoons greek yogurt (plus a teaspoon or two more if needed)
1 large egg, beaten for egg wash⁣
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated gouda or gruyere⁣
Everything bagel seasoning⁣
3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups of boiling water. ⁣
⁣
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick spray. ⁣
⁣
In a small bowl, use a firm spatula to work together the flour and yogurt. Add a few teaspoons of yogurt if it feels dry and knead into a cohesive ball for 5 minutes or so. Sprinkle with a bit more flour if it gets overly sticky. Cover with a damp paper towel and gather your toppings. ⁣
⁣
Divide dough in two and roll each piece into a roughly 8-inch rope. Bring the ends around and pinch into a circle. ⁣
⁣
Sprinkle the bottom of the prepared pan with grated cheese in two spots.  Pour boiling water over the baking soda and float each bagel in the water for 20 or so seconds.  Use a slotted spot or spatula to transfer the bagels on top of the cheese.  Brush lightly with egg. Sprinkle with more cheese and everything bagel seasoning. ⁣
⁣
Bake for 20 - 22 minutes until deeply golden and bubbling.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and smearing with cream cheese.
Here to remind you that you can mix a few ingredie Here to remind you that you can mix a few ingredients together tonight and have a hot little loaf of bread in the morning. ⁣
⁣
This easy, nearly no-knead Rye Bread is essentially a magic trick. I’ll leave the recipe linked and big love to my friends @lecreuset for the most elite bread pot!
Cinnamon Rolls but make ‘em Mardi Gras. 💜💛 Cinnamon Rolls but make ‘em Mardi Gras. 💜💛💚⁣⁣
⁣⁣
For the rolls: ⁣⁣
• 3/4 cup lukewarm milk⁣⁣⁣
• 1 large egg⁣⁣⁣
• 1 large egg yolk⁣⁣⁣
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened⁣⁣⁣
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting⁣⁣⁣
• 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast⁣⁣⁣
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar⁣⁣⁣
• ¾ teaspoon salt⁣⁣⁣
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
For the filling:⁣⁣
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened⁣⁣⁣
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed⁣⁣⁣
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
For the icing:⁣⁣
• 4 ounces softened cream cheese⁣⁣⁣
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar or glazing sugar⁣⁣⁣
• 1 tablespoon milk⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
1. To make the dough, place all of the dough ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on low until the dough begins to come together. You may want to speed up the process by first mixing all of the ingredients together by hand with a spatula before putting the bowl on the stand mixer. This will help the dough hook work. The dough will come together into a soft, though not too sticky dough ball after several minutes of hand mixing and stand mixer mixing.⁣⁣⁣
2. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and lightly dust the top of the dough with flour. Let rise for 60 minutes while you prepare the filling and icing.⁣⁣⁣
3. To make the filling: Combine the butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon into a paste. Set aside.⁣⁣⁣
4. To make icing, whisk together cream cheese and sugar. Add the milk and whisk until smooth.  Place in a small bowl and refrigerate. ⁣⁣⁣
5. Roll the dough into a 18 x 12 inch rectangle.⁣⁣⁣
6. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough.⁣⁣⁣
7. Beginning with one long edge, roll the dough into a log. Cut the log into 8 or 10 equal slices. Place the slices in a greased 9×13-inch baking pan, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise for 30 minutes. ⁣⁣⁣
8. Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F.  Bake the rolls for 30 to 35 minutes, until they’re golden brown and bubbling. Remove the rolls from the oven.⁣⁣⁣
9.  Drizzle icing over the warm buns and enjoy! ⁣
I’ve taken these Little Banana Pancakes on as a I’ve taken these Little Banana Pancakes on as a personality trait. ⁣
⁣
Full recipe linked in the bio or just take the concept and a box of pancake mix and I’ll see you at the kitchen table. Xo
This recipe is an essential life skill. Not an und This recipe is an essential life skill. Not an understatement. Two Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe linked in the bio, babes. Xo 🍪
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up