baking with kids

The other day we were running some errands as a family and Chris turned on one of our favorite radio programs. The topic of the day was discipline and spanking and the discussion about expectations really got me thinking. The host used an example of a parent getting frustrated with their toddler while reading because they wanted to flip through the pages instead of listening to every word and carefully looking over every picture. The point being that our expectations as parents can often hinder a good learning experience. This was a reminder to me that children do not learn in the same way adults learn and it is important to allow them the space and time to take in the world their own way.

I thought about this for my own life and the one thing that immediately came to mind was baking. Micah is constantly in the kitchen watching everything I do and eagerly waiting to offer a helping hand. I usually try to bake with him once a week, but my tendency is to really control the situation and when he starts adding the wrong amounts of flour or there is a little bit of egg shell left in the bowl I swoop in and send him off to play. It's terrible. . . . .I know. I'm so concerned with the way something is going to taste and totally oblivious to the fact that he is learning and growing and taking in life.

So I decided to just go for it. Forget about expectations and taste and outcome.

(Micah thinks the mixer is too loud)

We had fun pouring and mixing and cracking eggs. . . . . .

And apparently it tasted really good, because swiper swiped as soon as she had the chance! 

And, I can't say that I could have done any better baking these by myself. 

I guess it's not so bad to relinquish control every once in awhile. . . .