When I was growing up, my mom would start doing her Christmas baking well ahead of time. I don’t just mean a couple of weeks ahead of Christmas, either. I’m talking months. She would make two lists: one list detailed the people in her life she wanted to give Christmas baking to, and the other list detailed exactly which and how many of each kind of cookie she intended to make. When the math was all done, there were literally hundreds of dozens of cookies and squares to churn out in time for delivering to friends, family and colleagues in the week leading up to Christmas. I still marvel at her ability to make this annual ritual a priority in her busy life as a wife, mom of two kids and full-time employee.
One year she decided that she would make Rice Krispies Treats® as part of the baking extravaganza. My brother and I were happy to become part of the Christmas cookie assembly line, and what was even nicer was that on this particular evening, my dad was involved, too. We made batch after batch after batch of Rice Krispies Treats®, and in those days, before the microwave recipe was available, the butter and marshmallows had to be melted in a big pot on the stove, and the stiff mixture stirred by my dad’s strong arms. He even broke a few wooden spoons that day, but it didn’t matter; we were having fun. The home baking cookie factory was in full swing, with our mom and dad happily dancing around the small kitchen in our 1950s bungalow, a little boom box playing some of their favourite music all the while. You see, what makes this memory especially precious to me is that it is one of few I have from that time in my childhood where both of my parents were present, and both of them happy and loving each other. We were busy kids, and they were busy parents, and the times the four of us were together during that last year or so before their divorce are especially important to me.
Looking back on those memories makes me think ahead into the future little family that Graham and I are hoping to have. Will we make memories like these together with our children? I sure hope so.
The Motherhood is working in collaboration with Rice Krispies® in asking moms to share some special moments that revolve around the kitchen or meal time. (I should note that I don’t work for either Rice Krispies® or The Motherhood, but wanted to show my support of this initiative and the mommyblogging community by sharing my own special childhood kitchen memories, too.)
Since I’m hoping to become a mom someday soon, I’m very interested in hearing about how you and your kids spend time together in the kitchen.
What do you do in the kitchen or around meals with your kids you’d like to share?
Feel free to answer this question or the “fast five” questions below in a blog post of your own, or in the comments section here. I will randomly select two readers who respond in the comments section as prize winners!
- What is the most insane creation to come out of your kitchen when you and/or the kids were trying something new?
- Do you have any favourite traditions that the kids look forward to doing in the kitchen with you?
- What was the first meal you taught your kids to fix?
- Have you experienced any kitchen disasters with your kids?
- Do you have a nightly ritual with your family when it comes to meal time? If so, will you share it?
Links to photos of you and your kids in the kitchen are welcome, too.
I look forward to your responses!
What a wonderful, moving, evocative post!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just felt like I was there with you in the kitchen with your family! Here are my answers to the fast five: 1. The most insance creation – our very own version of a peanut butter cup – peanut butter mush made out of who knows what covered in chocolate – totally disgusting; 2. they love family meetings when we take out our special book and they take turns taking notes on what’s going on; 3. first meal … hmmm…. they’ve haven’t made it to a whole meal yet, but early on they learned how to make rice krispie treats and chocolate chip cookies (wait, that’s a meal right?); 4. oooh… plenty of disasters. They especially loved the popcorn all over the kitchen!; 5. nightly ritual when we’re all together – I just learned of a new one I want to try. A friend grew up with her mother saying when everyone toasted, “To us all. No one better.” It was a great source of unity and love and pride for her family and she loved it.
Thanks for your wonderful post!!!!!!!!
1. What is the most insane creation to come out of your kitchen when you and/or the kids were trying something new? Ritz crackers drizzled with melted milk chocolate and semi-sweet chips. I know it probably sounds gross but it’s really good… not unlike chocolate covered pretzels. Also good with chocolate and Cheerios.
2. Do you have any favourite traditions that the kids look forward to doing in the kitchen with you? We make birthday cakes for every family member’s birthday and it’s a really big deal around here. I let the kids do a lot of the mixing and decorating.
3. What was the first meal you taught your kids to fix? Not sure if this counts but toaster waffles and pancakes. My kids are 8 and 3 so anything I’m not comfortable with anything more complicated than that yet.
4. Have you experienced any kitchen disasters with your kids? I think the biggest disasters were the ones where mommy made the mistakes, llke thinking baking soda and baking powder were basically the same. They’re definitely not lol.
5. Do you have a nightly ritual with your family when it comes to meal time? If so, will you share it? I think the fact that we turn the TV off and all sit down together is pretty much our ritual. We eat, talk, laugh, talk about our day. It’s really nice, actually.