The Quiet Smile of a Wise Woman!

Smart Women Don't Waste Time Arguing

My mom would've been a great diplomat.
My father was a sweet person, but as many men in those times, he had the illusion of being the head of the household and his word was supposed to be the law in the family.
Mom didn't like to waste time with futile arguments, so she always found the peaceful way to do things her way.

I was reading on the couch on a weekend afternoon when I heard Mom telling Dad in the kitchen, "The butcher cut the meat so nice and thin, I'm going to make stuffed pork with potatoes for dinner."

"I want fried pork, not stuffed!" Came Dad's authoritarian voice.

"Okay, dear, I'll make fried pork then, but I don't have enough oil."

"I'll go to the store." Dad volunteered.

As soon as he was out the door, mom soaked the bread, chopped onion, garlic, apples, dried cranberries and celery, cracked eggs and mixed the stuffing with spices.

"Mom, aren't you making fried pork?"

"Nope," she replied, smiling.

"He's going to be mad." I volunteered.

Mom just nodded and by the time Dad got home with the oil, the dinner was out of the oven.

"I thought by the time you get home from the store you'd be starving," Mom said with a sweet smile on her face. "It would take a long time to prepare and fry the meat, so I decided to make the stuffed meat instead."

Dad opened his mouth to protest with an angry look on his face when Mom took the lid of the pan. "It smells really good," Dad sniffed the air and he's expression softened. But to save his authoritarian dignity he added, "Hope you didn't put anything fancy in the stuffing like those chefs on TV. Who'd put apples and cranberries in the stuffing? You know I like it plain and simple."

"Of course I know how you like it, dear! Let's eat."

We enjoyed the delicious meal in silence for a few minutes when Dad put his fork down and asked, "What are those tasty bits in the stuffing? It's really good."

"Just some apples and cranberries," Mom said.