The other day my good friend Jen posted a video on her blog of her little girl Maisie helping make a salad for dinner. Ever since then Eliza keeps asking to “helper in the kitchen” whenever I am cooking. I have struggled with this because the kitchen is NOT my happy place! I am not one of those mom’s that is comfortable tossing things together while juggling the kids. We have been eating alot (okay, pretty much every one) of our meals at home lately and I am getting a bit better…but I find myself making dinner early while Eliza is sleeping and Isaac is having quiet time. The idea of two or three kids standing on stools, climbing on counters, and getting into everything while I put together a meal just stresses me out! My recent solution after seeing Jen’s blog post was to let one of the kids be my dinner helper on occasion when the meal allows. So tonight I was making enchiladas and cooking some corn we had left from the pumpkin patch. Isaac was sitting on the counter helping with the enchiladas and Lexi noticed that the bag of corn on the cob was sitting out…she LOVES husking the corn! She asked (quietly, hoping no one else would hear) if she could do the corn. It was not part of my “one dinner helper” plan, but oh well, she was so excited. It didn’t take long for Isaac to see Lexi’s job was more fun…he jumped off the counter and joined her…then Eliza wanted in on the action (yes, she is wearing Isaac’s shoes…and yes, they are on the wrong feet!). In no time flat, I had corn husks and the silky threads all over the kitchen…but all three kids were happily helping with dinner.
2 Comments
October 16, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Let the husking begin! Amy I’m so proud of you for letting all 3 of the kiddos “help”. Activities like this build memories, even if they seem insignificant to us. They don’t remember the mess or the lack of order; they’ll just remember the fun. Kuddos to you!
October 17, 2008 at 2:31 am
Oh, Amy, I am so with you on the helping in the kitchen. It stresses me out just thinking about it. It’s not just that it takes a lot longer, it’s a lot messier, I have to worry about safety with heat, knives,mixers, etc., “someone” has a tendency to sneeze in the food…it’s all of those things together. I have to force the patience when the moment arises. Kudos to you! I’m sure they had a blast being helpers. And…they are STINKING adorable.