Today the kids all woke up happy, ate their breakfast when asked, were ready for church on time, and were fairly well-behaved during the long 4 hours we were there.
When we came home, I asked the girls if they wanted to help me cook dinner, and I can’t tell you how excited they were!
I don’t know about you, but I seriously dislike helpers in the kitchen. I like to go in, get the meal cooked, and not have anyone in my way (unless you are seriously fast and efficient)! I am not the type that likes little hands in my kitchen (or big hands, for that matter)! I think this may be a trait inherited from my Mom, perhaps?!! 😉
BUT…I do realize the value in letting children help prepare meals, and I’m trying to change my outlook!
A few days ago Maiya was SOOO excited to help me rinse lettuce for a salad. She was so proud of that small simple thing! So, I’ve decided I should try to let them “in” more often 🙂 Yes, it’s more work and requires MUCH more patience for me (based on my last post, you can see that I lack that at times).
We prepared African Quinoa Soup (one of Jared’s favorite), which requires a ton of vegetables! Ella peeled a tough sweet potato for about 20 minutes (no joke), and Maiya helped me rinse veggies, and divide everything I chopped into two portions (because we had to cook the soup in two pots, seeing how our rental doesn’t have a single pot big enough for the recipe)!
When all of the veggies were in and cooking, the girls decided to get the table ready, and went so far as to wrap sarongs around the chairs, as if they were fancy seat covers in a restaurant. I’m tellin’ ya…it was CUTE!
When dinner was served, we didn’t hear a SINGLE mention about not liking their food (a typical sound–especially with a soup full of many dreaded veggies: onions, celery, red pepper, sweet potato, etc)! Letting kids help certainly reduces their disinterest in a meal! Sweet! I could get used to that!
Ella also mandated that we “use our crackers wisely”, and sweetly chastised Jared for using too many.
After dinner, they helped to clean up and we all settled in to watch one of my favorites movies, “It’s a Wonderful Life” (it conveniently came with the rental, and I haven’t seen it in ages!).
The kids were all happy throughout the entire movie (Ethan included!), I frequently teared up at the movie (like usual), and when it was done they got ready for bed without too much trouble (by 9pm–not bad, when we’re on the road)!
It was a seriously good day.
Can we do this again?
So glad it was a nice day! I had such a hard morning at church with my kids, walked out in tears and left right away afterwards. Ugh. The rest of the day has been much better though.
Hahahaa! I so know the feeling! Glad the day improved for you 🙂
One of my old roommates’ family called the help little kids give “hepping” because it takes so much more work to have them help. Way to be! I knew a girl who didn’t know how to cook anything because her mother never let her help in the kitchen. Yeah, she was married and attending college. I’m glad my mom let me “help”, even though I’m sure she felt more like I was “hepping”.
I love days like that. Great job on being patient and opening up your kitchen to willing little hands!
Hepping! I love it! Yes, it certainly isn’t really actually helping…well, not to that parent, anyhow! But it DOES help the kid!! I need to try harder to prepare food far enough in advance that I don’t feel like I’m in a rush to get it done (so the kids can help)!!
I love the last photo! The lady on the sarong looks like she’s joining you for dinner – and in the bottom corner… there seems to be a small boy doing something with the floor. I’m really enjoying your blogs… (had a little giggle about the tantrum story too!).
Isn’t that a funny sarong? And yes…the little boy on the floor would be ours, too. You’ll notice in MOST of our family photos there is usually a child (almost) missing…usually in a corner or such!! 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Will you share the recipe for the soup?
Here is a link to the recipe online: http://www.mothering.com/community/a/african-quinoa-soup
We love it, and have many family members we have shared it with who have loved it too (and some who haven’t…)!!
Don’t be afraid of some of the things on the list…just use commonly found white quinoa (I’ve never pre-rinsed mine), and normal peanut butter is fine, instead of unsweetened 🙂
Enjoy!
I am like you… I don’t like helpers in the kitchen. Lately that hasn’t been a problem though because my maid has been doing the cooking 😉 Kyah LOVES to help her (and help her wash the laundry by hand too).
Miss you guys!
Now THAT sounds like fun!! Although I have a hard time letting anyone in my space, even if they’re serving me! Hahaha…I have to completely remove myself from the situation and return for the meal and then go again! 🙂 That’s awesome that Kyah helps her!! Miss you guys, too!!