Ping-Pong

My mind is ping-ponging between the present and the future and my thoughts are a little scattered. I’m preparing for the start of our ice cream season, getting ready for travel to see Ila compete in a National Championship for the indoor track season (say a prayer for her this coming Friday and Sunday), wrapping my head around the fact that daylight saving is next week, which means summer will be knocking at my door in a hot second and we still need to plan our summer and fall menus. Do you have any flavors that you’d love to see us bring back?

Images (L-R): Nico and I at the ceramics wheel throwing vases; Nico with his pre-glazed vase

We just announced our Women’s History Month Bakery Ice Cream Pint Series and I’m really excited about that–we’ve partnered with four Black Women-owned NYC Bakers (Je T’aime Patisserie, The Pastry Box, The Bakery on Bergen, and The Little Fat Girl) to release a collaborative pint that features one of their most popular baked goods layered inside an ice cream pint that includes a custom ice cream flavor….I’m talking toasted almond croissants and salted chocolate chip cookies with ruby chocolate and Saint Domingue 70% dark chocolate. A limited edition of pints drops at all Sugar Hill Creamery locations as well as the featured bakery on each Friday of this month until they sell out.

And even though I feel like my brain is here, there, and everywhere, I am still savoring the time I got to spend with Nico on Friday for our board meeting. If you haven’t read my email about board meetings, they are one-on-one dates you have with your child that last at least four hours with no cell phones allowed (unless you’re using them to sneak a picture of the two of you like me). The date always ends in a meal to reflect on the day. Their purpose is to connect with your child without all the distractions of siblings, emails and text messages, and notifications reminding us that we are living in a dumpster fire. I actually haven’t had a board meeting with each of our kids in A MINUTE, I’m ashamed to say. I’ve had intentional time with two of three kids at a time, but not cell-phone-free one-on-ones.

Our featured bakeries and bakers for the Bakery Pint Ice Cream Series

I was actually sharing this with a therapist recently when they asked how I spent time with my kids. I told her about the board meetings but shared that it had been a while since we were able to peel away for four hours with the phone off for one-on-one time. I did share that we spend a lot of time together but it’s not always intentional and focused on connection. When I told her, prior to our board meeting, that Nico was looking forward to it, she said, “Your kids are really going to remember this time with you.” This reminded me that it’s not always about quantity but quality. I may not have been able to keep up with quarterly meetings in this season of my life, but whatever intentional time I can spare will be imprinted in their memories for years to come, and that’s truly all I can ask for.

I’m not sure if you have kids. If you do, it’s possible you feel the guilt of not giving them your undivided attention when you want to, and especially when life is lif-ing. But what this therapist said was a wonderful reminder that memory made through intentional time spent is a beautiful gift, and giving my kids as many of these gifts as I can spare is meaningful enough.

Image: Nico enjoying the lemon sorbet at Sottocasa Harlem at the end of our board meeting

I’ve seen some parents have mini board meetings with their kids at our ice cream shops, coming in after school or on the weekend for quality time and small-batch ice cream. Whether you’re looking for more intentional time with loved ones or an excuse to just put your phone down, I hope you’ll visit us at some point this month to support one or all of these bakeries. Ice cream is a great reason to stop and enjoy the present.

Petrushka

Your Local Ice Cream Lady & Life/Business Coach