Most of us have children who like to do special things for us on Mother’s Day.  They may fight all day, but doggone it they’re going to make that card — and possibly try to serve us breakfast in bed.  Here are some options that even kids can handle.  You can use these to drop hints, or make sure your significant other reads this and can supervise the children.

(Use common sense.  Be sure they have whatever oversight they need, for safety reasons.  Some of these are suitable for younger children than others.  You know what appliances your children are able to handle.)  Unfortunately, for those of us with really weird diets, there might not be too many — or any — kid-friendly choices.

Banana & Granola

One of the simplest options, if there’s already granola in the house.  Serve up granola in a bowl, with milk if that’s the way you eat it at your house, and add a banana on the side.  (If you do cold boxed cereal at your house, that works, too.)

Skills needed: pouring

Banana Roll-Up

Spread a tortilla with peanut butter, other nut butter, or sunbutter (whatever you use at your house).  Place a peeled banana on top and roll it up.

Skills needed: spreading

Toast

Make a couple pieces of toast, then spread with peanut butter, other nut butter, sunbutter, cream cheese, or yogurt cheese.

Skills needed: spreading, using the toaster

Yogurt Parfait

Combine yogurt in a bowl or parfait dish with fruit, such as bananas, grapes, apples, berries.

Skills needed: dishing yogurt, possibly cutting fruit, possibly washing fruit (depending on fruit selection)

Oatmeal

We make our oatmeal without stirring, so it retains some “tooth,” rather than being complete slimy mush.  Older kids can handle it with minimal supervision.  (My 7-year-old can make it herself.)  Younger kids obviously oughtn’t use the stove alone, but can probably do most of the work if they have help.

Bring 1-3/4 c. of water to a boil in a pot that has a lid.  When the water is boiling, add 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 c. whole rolled oats.  Do not stir, but you can use the spoon to gently push any rogue oats under the water.  Put the lid on the pot and remove it from the heat (to a trivet or a burner that was and is off).  Let sit for 15 minutes.

Then add whatever “extras” you prefer.  At our house it’s usually a little milk or cream, a bit of honey or Demerara sugar, and a dash of cinnamon.

Skills needed: measuring, timing, use of the stove to boil water

Baked Eggs

With no need to know how to scramble eggs or fry an egg without burning it, these eggs are pretty simple and straightforward (although they do involve the oven).

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Butter or oil a ramekin.  (A ramekin is like a tiny casserole dish about the size of one or two muffins.)  Break an egg or two into the ramekin.  Season with salt and pepper, then put about a spoonful of milk or cream on top.  Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the white is set (solid) and the yolk almost is.

(You might have to check it with a toothpick, because when they’re cooked this way, I find the eggs don’t look done, but they feel done.)

Skills needed: cracking eggs, timing, use of the oven

Smoothie

A smoothie is simple, but requires that you know how to use the blender safely (and with the lid on!!)  There are thousands of different variations.  If you already have a favorite, use that.  If you don’t have a favorite, here’s a simple one:

1 c. milk (or 1/2 c. milk + 1/2 c. orange juice)
1 banana
6 or so frozen strawberries

Blend well in the blender.

(This can also be used as an addition to many of the other options, if you like.  I wouldn’t recommend serving it with a banana, though. That might be overkill on the banana.)

Skills needed: blender use