I love to cook. I didn't always, though. In fact, I didn't even know how to 'really' cook until I got married and my husband taught me. My mom was an awesome cook, but she didn't have the patience to teach. She didn't want me in the kitchen at all when she was cooking. So, much like we all do when we grow up and have kids of our own and try to change what we felt we missed out on as a child, I made sure to make cooking a family event. Not every meal, but as often as possible or as they want.
Tim, my oldest, LOVES to cook. He definitely shares my passion. When we had DirecTV, he would join his dad and I in watching The Food Network. He can make several things by himself and what he can't do by himself, he gladly helps me make. In fact, for his sister's 2nd birthday, he made her (boxed) cake all by himself. Today is his dad's birthday and he'll be making his cake.
Josh has just recently shown an interest in cooking, although he's been helping out since he was about three. Josh is a very picky eater, so he'll help cook but he won't always eat what he cooks. Tim was like that, more so because his sensory issues were really bad and wouldn't let him eat a lot of foods, willingly. Through the course of learning about foods and how to prepare them, as well as raising most of the foods we use in our garden, Tim has become a pretty outgoing eater. So, there's still hope for Josh!
Kaylee is already helping in the kitchen. She loves to 'wash' dishes and helps prepare foods whenever I let her. Last night, as I was slicing zucchini and squash for a meal, she was putting the slices into a bowl for me. She also helps stir and pour ingredients.
Cooking is a great way to work with your kids and it builds their self-confidence. It is very rewarding to make a meal and sit down and eat it, knowing it came from your own work. When it's really good and the family enjoys it, it's a great boost to the 'I CAN do it' mentality we try to raise our kids with.
