setting him loose

My son loves to bake, among other things.  For the longest time he has been asking me to let him do something in the kitchen all by himself, but my perfectionist nature hesitates to let children in the kitchen by themselves due to messes and mistakes, but I decided to set him loose anyway.

There was much mixing and scraping and laughing and I stayed on the sidelines when the eggs were cracked.  He took it upon himself to check for shells in the batter which made me very happy.  Is anyone else grossed out by the texture of egg shells left in food?

The pouring was perfect and he even remembered to spray the pan with oil to avoid sticking.  Aubry was selected to lick the potato masher, a utensil I wouldn't have chosen, but it seemed to do the job just fine.

"Mom, do you have to take my picture eating the bread?"

"Absolutely, Son!  I want to post your handsome face on my blog for all to see!"

I love his "smirking bite" in the photo!

Here's to lots more time in the kitchen for him!

Comments

[Tracy]

Great Job, kiddos! Doesn't look like they made a mess, either!

[julie]

How fun.... looks like the bread was a success!

[Miss Chris]

Good for you, mom! Looks like they had fun.

My eldest loves to bake, too. Clean up is always interesting, as well...

[Heather Young]

Our only rule in the kitchen is you have to clean before AND after you bake. My oldest LOVES baking and even her mistakes taste good. Once you get the whole scientific side of baking (combining proportions of different things and making sure if you substitute you know the qualities of what you are using) even mistakes or substitutions turn out well.

Looks like he is on the right track. :)

[kirsten]

i love it. that indepedence is really good for them -my daughter is almost there - i should let her try...

[Mindy]

I am so glad you are letting him cook! My son has always loved to cook. He is now 15 and I know he will never starve. His first meal by himself was hotdogs in the oven.

Lawsy we ate hotdogs for a long long time. His sister and I were so glad when he got out of that phase and moved on to something else.

[Minnesotamom]

What a cute photo of him biting the bread! That's so cool that he likes to bake.

I love to cook now, but showed no interest at all in high school. I think my mom was amazed when I showed some talent in the kitchen. She wanted to teach me, but I didn't want to learn. I hope my kids are more interested, but if not...I guess they could always learn later like I did.

[Leslie]

What a sweet post and I love the pictures. He looks like he is the age of my son who is only interested in eating. :)

[Stacy]

Wow! I'm impressed that he checked for egg shells. Good for him, and good for you because surely he learned it from you! :)

~Stacy

[Sandra~My Inspired Heart]

My boys also love to cook...I think its great to let them build confidence in the kitchen....this way they can never say that they "don't know how to cook." You've even got the photographic evidence ;) He did a wonderful job of keeping everything clean,too! He's certainly not a messy cook...and the bread looks yummy!

[noodle]

Good job for letting him at it! My son loves to bake too, and I have to just say "yes" when I'm really thinking "are you kidding? you'll make a horrible mess!" :)

[rohanknitter]

The two of them looks so cute!! I don't let mine loose in the kitchen often enough either. My oldest does know how to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies, but I really should get them more comfortable with cooking. (their dad is famous for his lack of kitchen skills!)

[Pieces]

Good for you, Mom! I know exactly what you mean about letting them go it alone in the kitchen. But it is very rewarding. Great photos!

[Renna]

If I could back to my childraising days, one of the things I'd do differently would be to turn my kids loose in the kitchen.

My mom didn't teach me to cook as I was growing up, not wanting to risk a mess in her kitchen. I'm not sure why that concerned her, since I was the one who had to clean it, anyway. ;-Þ

You'd think I would have learned from her and gone the other way with my kids, and yet, I ended up being much like her, for the same reasons.

By the time my daughter came along (nearly 9 years after her brother), I'd chilled considerably, and I did let her loose. She is a good cook who makes all her own rules and recipes. My son, on the other hand, can cook only a few simple things.

I said all that to say, BRAVO for letting your little guy in there. I'm glad you showed us his handsome mug, too. Your kids are all adorable!

[Marsha]

Hooray for self sufficient bakers!!! That means lots of treats and the possibility of breakfast in bed for YOU this Mother's Day!

[Oiyi]

I think it's wonderful that he likes to bake. What a great kid.

[Pam in Colorado]

Way to go! The best thing I did for my little girls (well, right after teaching them to do their own laundry) was to let them cook and bake on their own. I'm never far away if they need me but I let them at it and they really do a great job!! Baking from scratch is "child's play" for Rachel.

They are required to clean up after themselves but they don't mind.

The bread looks great!

[Berlinswhimsy]

Oh so great to have a son who likes to bake!

[char]

We looked for you and your cute stuff this year at the blossom festival. Did you have one.?

[Beck]

Hee! Your kids are cute.
You know, my son DOES show a lot less interest than my daughter does in cooking, but maybe I also slack in encouraging him to cook. Hmmm.

[cindy]

My son is 10 and always asking to cook. It's the cleaning up that I'm trying to let go of. He's definately old enough to wash some dishes, but I'm scared of the mess. I guess I just need to give him a chance.

[Sherry Legan]

What wonderful photo's. So see you stayed out of the way and let him create while keeping yourself busy and you have wonderful photo's! I turned my son loose cooking ground beef for taco's and came back to find about 1/4 of a pound left! He loved to taste while he cooked! Enjoy them because before you know it they will be off to college and/or married! Did you want to hear that?
Have a great evening. Smiles,Sherry

[Emily]

He's all "Yeah, that's right....I rock."

[lera]

Good for him! And what a handsome little dude!

[Kelsey Smith]

How fun and yummy!

[Gayle]

Love the little smirk! My boys are all about cooking, too. In fact, I have given over lunch duties (most of the time) to my oldest boy since he enjoys it so much.

[Jill]

That is a handsome face! I like that he chose to use the potato masher.

I have a feeling that Victor will be a kitchen kind of guy. I'm always wearing him when I cook or bake, so he has a front row view of the procedures--he is very interested in it all.

XO

[Deb]

Oh, yum!

[Christy]

It's fun letting things just be. :) Looking forward to more baking and recipes.

[Erin S]

I had to laugh when reading this post. I have similar "control" issues in the kitchen. Way to go for taking a step back and letting him run wild in the kitchen. After all that's how they learn.

His bread looks yummy! What was it? Banana bread?

[katie]

How fun! I use a potato masher when I make banana bread, too. =0)

[mandy]

Future Emeril on our hands here??

My cousin just finished his culonary arts degree. I think it is just that, an art.

[Kim]

Looks like he did a great job in the kitchen! Way to go letting him in.

I can't say much as I haven't had the courage to do so yet. Maybe one day soon.

[lissilulu]

Great job! My son (12) loves to cook too...well, mostly omelets and grilled cheese. lol!

[Michelle]

How cute, ok, now you have given me the courage to set my own loose! :) I love your blog!!
Michelle

[Tina]

Thanks for sharing your children in the kitchen, it's a reminder for me to include my own daughter more in the kitchen help! Your blog is always an inspiration, thanks!

[Ellen]

They look like they're enjoying themselves. Glad he likes to cook. My sons (& daughter) love to work in the kitchen. It is so difficult to let them have free reign in there - for those very reasons you mentioned!

I think you should surprise him with his own apron (if he'll wear it!).

[Robin]

(((Randi))) I was going to comment here and decided to put it with the Mother's Day entry. :) :)

Hugs, Robin