Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Philosophy and Crock Pots

Tackle It Tuesday


I have rediscovered my love of Crock pots!

Yesterday, I took my new best friend out of storage, dusted her off, and made the best dinner ever! BBQ ribs! My family thinks I'm amazing! ;)

Honestly, Crock pots make me feel a little too Minne-soooo-tan!

Casseroles? Crock pot.

Hot Dishes? Crock pot.

Egg Nog? Crock pot.

Full course dinner? Crock pot!

I have been ignoring my crock pot whilst I worked on my self-esteem. Yes, I am home-grown Minne-soootan and occasionally refer to the dinner meal as supper. I have been known to say "You betcha" and have been teased about being oh-so-Minnesota-nice. It seems as I have contemplated who I will be when I grow up, I have been tempted to put aside those overt Minnesotan qualities (and appliances!) that really do make a difference as we tackle each day of our lives!

As I have transitioned into this new phase of life called midlife, I have discovered that I have thrown away the baby with the bath water! Yes, I am old enough to resemble that idiom!

After being a SAHM for nearly 27 years, I have now entered the Seventh Stage of life: Middle Adulthood. According to Erik Erikson, my task in this stage is to cultivate the proper balance between generativity and stagnation.

Generativity is an extension of love into the future. Stagnation is as it sounds, ceasing to be a productive person in society.

Where's the problem?

After being SAHM for nearly three decades, I am ready...ready to generate some passion for God's purpose for the remainder of my life. In my enthusiasm for my newly found mission, I can over-extend generativity at the expense of all else. Erik Erikson describes overextension as a maladaptation that occurs while trying to cultivate a healthy balance between generativity and stagnation. "Some people try to be so generative that they no longer allow time for themselves, for rest and relaxation. The person who is overextended no longer contributes well."

Philosophy and Crock Pots?

Dusting off my kitchen appliance went deeper than a good meal. As I sat at my dinner table last night with my family, I enjoyed every compliment; but it was the connection of a relaxing dinner conversation that convicted me the most.

Life gets busy. And if we're lucky, life goes on.

As I took that dusty old crock pot out of stagnation, I realized that I was on the edge of imbalance as I journey through mid-life. How much was I willing to throw aside to make room for something new? In the frenzy of our days, do we toss aside good things as we try to improve and invest for the future?

Crock pot? Yes, crock pots and dinner with our families: Both have some really good features that must be retained no matter where we are heading in our quest for fulfillment. If we throw out the baby with the bath water...what have we gained?

I've been convicted!

"Yeah, sure, you betcha! I LOVE my Crock pot!" ;0)



7 comments:

Mrs. Frogster said...

wow - I never knew there was so much philosophical thought to be found within a crockpot! LOL
I rarely use mine as well, but then a few weeks ago it fell off the counter and the ceramic pot broke. Now I keep thinking of ways I could use it if it weren't broken. . . ;)

Karen said...

Love your philosophy! I am all about crockpots! Currently with 6 various sizes of pots, there have been complete buffets for the family cooking on my kitchen counters. Love the convenience!

I just received my copy of "Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children". Can't wait to start it....

Valerie said...

It was about a year ago that I, too, rediscovered my crock pot. I still smile when I use it because I always think of my wedding day, opening up my wedding presents, and receiving SEVEN of them!!! Anyway, I have been giving much thought to this concept of "generativity" for the past couple of years, too, as I wonder what to do in this new stage of my life. Surprisingly, I think we found our "answer" in the same ministry - I don't think it was just a coincidence that God has brought us together at this "middle adulthood" stage of the game!

Dawn said...

I love crock pots - I just wish I had one of those really big ones. Ironically, I rarely use it since I'm at home.

I also love it when people like you can take such ordinary stuff and make a devotional out of it!!

And I do think you would be wise to be careful how much you put on yourself!

groovyoldlady said...

Now...if someone like Groovy tried to get philosophical about crock pots, she'd make lots of references to "stewing" and "Melding of flavors" and "Being improved by the long application of heat".

She would not use words like "maladaption" and "generativity", but perhaps that's because she's not from Minnysoda.

Dawn said...

I think, dear Groovy, from the point of view of another born Minnesotan, that it has a lot more to do with her very recently obtained degree in psychology!

Unknown said...

Okay...time for bed for me.

I had been checking out the "Caption Anyone" photo and then started reading this article.

I'm halfway through when I realized it was about CROCK pots not CRACKED pots.

I think I'll re-read the article with a fresh brain tomorrow :-) It will have an entirely different meaning.