Lessons learned while baking with my kids

I’ve only recently come to love baking with my kids. For years I was the mom who only baked cookies once or twice a year, usually at Christmas time. Ice cream cakes became the go to for birthdays. See, I love to cook but baking stresses me out. Bottom line? I don’t like to measure and flour makes me cringe. It’s messy. It flies out of the bowl and gets everywhere. It makes my OCD kick into high gear!

In the last three years I have gone from mommy of one to mommy of three. I am much more aware of how quickly the years pass and how important every single memory making opportunity really is. Children are only young once and before you know they will be grown. Now, one of the things that I remember very fondly about my own childhood is spending afternoons baking with my mom and I didn’t want my girls to miss out.

So, I made a decision. I became the mom that bakes often and bakes with her children. It’s not easy and I struggle with it every single time. But something amazing has happened. While creating memories for the girls I realized that they had taught me some very important lessons!

Messes are okay!

The world will not end if the flour spills on the counter. The egg shells in the batter can be easily picked out. The floor may be covered with sticky sugar and that is okay. The smiles on the girls’ faces as they lick the spoon make it all worth the small amount of time and effort that it will take to wipe things down.

I don’t always have to be in control!

This is huge for me. I’m bossy and I know it (sung to the tune of “I’m sexy and I know it”) Blame it on being the oldest child of four. I like to hold the reins. I like for things to have a place and a purpose. I want things done MY WAY. While baking with the kids I have been able to let go a bit. Let them crack the eggs even if it kills me inside. Hold my tongue when they are excruciatingly slow. It’s something that I am constantly working on.

Baking is fun!

That’s right, I said it, FUN! We giggle. We talk. We listen to music and dance around the kitchen. The kids are learning even though they don’t realize it. We are making delicious memories that will last them a lifetime! It’s a win-win situation.

I’m still learning but isn’t that what parenting is all about? It is our job to teach our children and also to learn from them as well.  Plus, we have a freezer full of goodies to show for it and that certainly doesn’t hurt!

What lessons have your children taught you?

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