Today’s Lessons

Every other Saturday Boo (what we’ve called our daughter since…. forever) and LT come over and “Da” – what LT has called his grandfather since he was a baby – always makes breakfast: biscuits and gravy, bacon and eggs. Today was no exception. All of us LOVE these Saturdays.

Rituals are important, life affirming, and fun. This afternoon, when Boo and LT came back, we had hamburgers and fries – homemade, of course. I also made a sour cream pound cake. LT absolutely LOVES my pound cake!! Most of the time he helps Nana with cooking and baking.

Last week, LT and I made cinnamon rolls for Boo to take to work. I taught LT how to knead bread and he really enjoyed it – AFTER I made him watch his hands thoroughly😇. Making bread isn’t as complicated as it seems, but it does require time. So LT would ask over and over about the bread. When dealing with a 5 year old, sometimes you must be direct. I told LT if he asked me about the bread before the timer went off he would not be able to help in the “punch-down” process – his fav part. Like treats to a dog or candy to a baby… one must find the sweet spot of incentive and capitalize on it. LT was patient for the punch-down. When the timer chimed it was time, and because LT had been (relatively) patient, he got to punch down the dough!! Then we spread on the butter, then the sugar, and finally the cinnamon. And we had cinnamon rolls ready for the oven!

FYI – the rolls on the end that look like misfits are intentional. Some of the recipients of these particular rolls were allergic to cinnamon … hence the custom sweet rolls – minus cinnamon.

I encourage EVERYONE to get in the kitchen and bake with your babies. It’s messy, infuriating, hilarious, educational… most of all – it creates a bond. Every mess can be cleaned – you’ve got a vacuum and a mop… don’t sweat it. Infuriating situations are simply teaching lessons on patience – who doesn’t need those? ALWAYS find ways to laugh. Every moment you spend together cooking, baking, gardening, or whatever, is an education in more ways to love your babies!