Sometimes I'm a lame mom, and I reject my kids' offers to help make dinner in order to reduce messes and preparation time by 600%. (I did a study once. It was very scientific. And above all, very conclusive. Allowing kids to help in dinner prep is inversely proportional to productivity.)
But every once in a while, I try to spark the fires of learning and experimentation in my kids (like when I feel guilty after reading "I am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson*) and I decide it's time to involve some little fingers.
Yesterday was spaghetti night. So I recruited our always-willing taste-tester, Lily. I taught her the timeless trick for knowing when spaghetti noodles are done--toss one on the ceiling and see if it sticks. Oh, boy. She was in heaven. And, oh boy, do my ceilings need to be cleaned now. We almost had to cook a second batch to make up for all the "tested" pasta.
This afternoon, I broke out leftover spaghetti for lunch, and was heating up bowls when I felt a small thunk on my back. A cold noodle dropped to the floor beside me, and I turned to see Lily looking sheepishly at me.
I returned to food prep, but it wasn't long (5 seconds) before I felt a slimy, cold spaghetti noodle land on my big toe.
What does Jane Clayson Johnson have to say about that, huh?
I was mentally transported back to the children's section of the library, where I took the girls to redeem their summer reading prizes. Lily and Eliza both earned sticky hands, which are pretty much their favorite things on earth, along with everything else that costs 1 cent from Oriental Trading. Lily gave her sticky hand one big twirl, right there in the library, and we never saw it again. Even though we looked and looked.
I guess I should have checked the librarians' toes.
* I actually DO like this book. Once I get over a few guilty feelings. But learning to be appropriately motivated by guilt (or not) is part of motherhood too, right?
10 comments:
I am not very willing to let the kids help me either. It's just SO much easier to do it myself. Then I realized that my 13 year old didn't know how to do much in the kitchen besides eat.
This summer each kid has a night they help with dinner. Sometimes I have to bite my tongue or walk away as I let them learn the ropes. Please don't tell them how you test if pasta is done. I don't think I could deal with cold pasta falling on my head or feet, although the dog would gladly eat it up.
Don't kid yourself! Those cuties help you all the time with your culinary extraveganzas. I'm an eye witness. But spaghetti . . . now that was a brave attempt!
Ha ha ha, 600% so true!!! That is hilarious you taught Lily that trick. That alone makes you the bravest mom on earth. I would not dare to teach that to my girls. Also, so true about the 1 cent prizes from Oriental Trading that the kids bust their backs reading for 20 hours for!!
HEE HEE HEE! You should look at our kitchen ceiling--dried pasta galore. And here's a good mom, I never even clean it off! I think Jordan sometimes wonders why I teach Micah stuff like that, but it's just so fun! You are a good mom, no matter what Jane whoever says about whatever. You are always doing projects with the kids.
Why are you reading a book on motherhood? Everyone knows they are written only to torment us :) Just kidding.
Despite some missing strands of spaghetti, I'm pretty certain you are an absolutely wonderful mother. Already taking your girls to redeem their prize for summer reading? Our charts are still hanging unmarked on our doorknobs :)
I think the next book about motherhood will be authored by one Janel Williams...
Oh, maybe that explains why our ceilings have all of these gross spots on them. It's too bad that having lots of fun often involves such messes - what fortunate children you have!
Glad I haven't taught Fox to "test" the noodles yet. It is really hard to let kids help with the cooking, and mine beg almost every meal. Sometimes I let them help, but it's usually a quick "no" from me. I need to create the noodle testing memories more. You're a great mom!
You are sooooo funny! Everytime I read one of your posts I can't help but laugh! Your family is so cute!
I am crying I am laughing so hard. No joke, there are tears in my eyes.
I just found this post....... So great!!!!! Hee hee!!!!!
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