Travelingjenny

It is no secret that I have hesitated to let my girls “help” me in the kitchen. It has always seemed like more trouble than it’s
worth, with poorly measured ingredients, big spills, and squabbles about who
gets to do what. The other day, however, something magical happened: I changed my mind.
I realized that in order to survive this long summer at home, I’m going to have to give them jobs beyond setting the
table and feeding the dog. And, who knows? They just might be ready to handle
it.  

This afternoon, after having her hose off our very sandy
beach shoes, I let Grace help put away the groceries. She did this
very well, and she felt proud. Buoyed by a surge of self-confidence, she then
decided to fix herself a snack. First, she put yogurt in a carefully chosen
bowl (she spilled some, but cleaned it up without any prompting), and spooned
some granola over the top. Then, she asked me to teach her how to fix the
fresh, local strawberries we had just brought home. I helped her choose a
colander and explained about only rinsing as many as she needed right then. She
removed the stems herself, and carefully placed the berries on top of the
granola layer. Next came grapes, and then a single raspberry as a garnish.
Grace smiled as she worked, and at one point she exclaimed, “I can’t believe
I’m cooking!” It was priceless. Of course, she ate the entire concoction, and
excitedly recounted the entire “cooking” process to her dad when he arrived
home. 

Later, Grace asked me if I would teach her how to cook this
summer. “It would be a really fun project to do together,” she explained, as if
I needed any convincing. Her first request? She’d like to learn how to fix a
frozen waffle, so that she can cook breakfast for her little sister. Who could
say no to that?