Rhubarb Oat Bars
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com INGREDIENTS • 1 1/2 cups fresh rhubarb, chopped • 1 cup packed brown sugar, divided • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice • 4 tbsp water, divided • 4 tsp cornstarch • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
Who Gets the Kid on Their Birthday? A lot of questions come with divorce. Who will stay at the house? Where does the family pet go? How do we split our finances? These are some of the most common questions couples ask, but one of the most hotly debated questions is one that seems so simple: How do we celebrate our child’s birthdays? The best approach is to find what works for your family and to create a legally binding document that outlines this plan. This holds everyone accountable. Here are a few options you could include in that plan. Celebrate Together If you and your ex can interact civilly, then no one should have to miss a birthday. The best way to do this is to keep everything simple. Choose a neutral place to gather together, set a budget limit for gifts, keep the conversation about your child, and focus on what makes them happy. If you’re hosting a party, be sure to only invite guests who can guarantee they won’t reference any issues that may have come up during the divorce. This celebration is about your child, not your split. Rotate Every Year If civility isn’t easy, go for fairness. Your ex will have your child one year, and you will celebrate with your child on their birthday the next year. You could also add holidays as a way to make the arrangement more even. And remember, if it’s not your year to host your child, that does not mean you can’t celebrate them! Celebrate the weekend before and call them on their special day. The gesture will mean more than the day does. Ask Your Child What They Want to Do You may not be able to spend every birthday with your child. In fact, as they age, they probably won’t want to be with you all day, and some kids may not want to make it a big deal! You and your ex should discuss what your child wants to do, then discuss a plan together. Listen to what the child requests and honor that. It may be difficult to spend the day without them — if that’s what they choose — but it will ultimately show your child you respect what they want. If you need to make changes to your parenting plan to reflect a different approach to birthday celebrations, contact Douglass & Runger today and learn more about our other areas of practice online at DouglassRunger.com.
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/3 cup butter, melted
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish. 2. In a medium saucepan, bring rhubarb, 1/2 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and 3 tbsp water to a boil. 3. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rhubarb is tender (about 5 minutes). 4. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining water, stirring until smooth. 5. Gradually add to the rhubarb mixture, return to a boil, and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside. 6. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, coconut, salt, and remaining brown sugar. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly. 7. Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish, spread rhubarb mixture on top, then sprinkle with remaining oat mixture. 8. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before enjoying!
INSPIRATION “Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.”―
–Roy T. Bennett
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