I love teaching my kids to cook. My experience has taught me that different ages come with particular cooking skills. A three-year old can assemble a simple sandwich. Peanut Butter and Jelly is conquered around four or five. It just takes a few tricks that they have to remember: Jelly first, wiping the knife off on the bread. Peanut Butter comes next. That way the jelly doesn’t get mixed with the Peanut Butter or vice versa.
Nine years old seems to be the magic baking age. Children adore sweets so much that is usually the recipe they WANT to make the most. What kid doesn’t love cake? They have accumulated enough math and reading to make it through the whole recipe.
The only worry is the heat of the oven and the mixer. By then we have scared them enough about the consequences of hurt fingers, they usually remember to be careful–especially with us yelling every so often gentle reminders. Smelling the contents of an oven that they filled makes for a very proud kid.
Then, we have teenage cooks. Low on patience. Big on hunger. So, quick, hearty things rule: scrambled eggs with cheese, hamburgers, pasta dishes. My goal is to make sure they don’t eat badly when they end up somewhere other than our home kitchen.
It doesn’t take much courage for a microwave burrito, but making pork chops? Well, this is where Bravehearts are born. You would think they have conquered a giant mountain when they finally realize how to make a decent, sizzling piece of meat. They even learn to feed others and show their strange sort of teenage love.
God teaches us much the same way. He doesn’t expect anything from us that we are unable to give. We learn to love from His loving us first though the sacrificial gift of His Son.
We watch over our kids as they learn, just as He does us. He doesn’t leave us.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8
He doesn’t give up on us. He doesn’t bend, even when we are stubborn.
What have you taught your children that ended up teaching you more about yourself?
How have your children been great teachers to you?
What a great example of the line upon line principle. We learn one thing before we can learn the next. Fun way to teach that. Thanks for sharing.
misssrobin recently posted..Counting My Blessings
{Kathy} That is a great way of looking at this. Thank you for the insight.
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Children are always amazing teachers. Mine teach me daily. They have certainly taught me how to laugh, how to live, how to love.
thedoseofreality recently posted..Silence Is Not An Option
{Kathy} Thank you for your comment! Laughing seems to be the largest component of my mothering right now. I am going to visit your blog today!