Today we have an article up over at Discovering Dad, about the benefits of having your kids help with the cooking.
Head on over there and take a look.
I read recently somewhere (forgive me for excluding the citation, I really don’t recall where it was I read it) about a woman who came up with the brilliant idea of pulling out the dishwasher rack and putting a mixing bowl there for her small daughter to stir. The height was exactly right for her, and if there was any slop out, the mess was contained and taken care of during the next dishwasher run.
Michael insists upon helping me every time I cook. “Can I make with you, daddy?” he’ll ask.
At one point I considered it a bother – it took extra time and effort to slow down enough to show them what to do and clean up after them.
But it makes them so happy. It’s such a little investment to make your kid really happy to do something grown-up, and to just spend time with you.
I’m really looking forward to the time when he (and/or one of his sisters) takes over on the pizza-making chore. Right now I end up eating last, and usually by myself. I smile to think that there will come a day when I can be relaxing outside on the deck in the warm evening, chatting with my wife and a few friends, and the kids will bring our pizza out to us. Maybe along with a couple of glasses of a 2003 Chianti.
Ah, those will be good days. Worth putting in the investment now.
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January 17th, 2010 - 3:01 pm
So I am the first common tater, so to speak. I will try not to be half-baked-yuk yuk.
I think having a kid develop the sauce would be a start and fun for them as well
supposing that you limit the ingredients to mostly edible items!
It is worth a try, they already do the chopping, correct?
Not sure I would trust Michael with a knife yet however.
Let me know if this is possible. Love, your mother
(MD) No knife for Michael yet. I’m sure the end result would have it sticking out of my sternum. But the sauce thing is a good idea. Today we made strawberry jam, Sister L and I. Pretty cool.
January 18th, 2010 - 3:15 am
I hope that I am on that deck when it happens.
(MD) Absolutely. I’ll give you and Weaseldaddy plenty of notice beforehand. Don’t expect it for another four years, though; Michael needs to learn how to deal with a 500 degree oven without ending up in the burn unit.
January 18th, 2010 - 9:51 am
Keep smiling! Sounds like a good plan. The reality is the kids will probably be too busy with their own lives.
I like your new slide show.
(MD) Well, we’ve had a few shining moments from time to time; episodes when Michael’s sisters were actually helpful and thoughtful. But like most exceptional things, those moments are indeed rare.