My son used to cook with me all the time. We had a food kit delivery service and we really looked forward to cooking together.
And then it stopped.
He was super into it at five and then over it by seven.
I don’t know if he realized he wasn’t going to eat half the stuff he made or he just trimmed one too many green beans to sustain his interest, but he hasn’t helped in awhile. He does help grate cheese but that is only because when he has that last piece that is too small to grate he gets to eat it.
So imagine my surprise when last week our almost 9 year-old offered to make us dinner.
Well, actually- I wasn’t that surprised.
There had been an incident involving a wasted packed lunch that was just one too many for our liking, and we threatened to stop making his lunch.
We told him he will eat whatever school offers for hot lunch unless he decides to make his own. Cuz seriously- does he have any idea how much Boar’s Head deli meat costs???
He must have panicked and offered up something like “I’ll make you dinner!” to distract us. Or poison us…The jury was still out…
And here we are. I would be eating whatever my son decided to make for us.
After scouring several of my cookbooks he landed on cream of chicken with broccoli and rice. Well- he actually chose homemade chocolate pudding too but I vetoed that due to length of ingredient list.
So JUST the chicken with broccoli.
This is a Campbell’s soup recipe and you can find it on the back on any can of soup so I will spare you the recipe and steps and just show you cute pics of my son cooking for us.
He did it. (Mostly) on his own. Apron and all!
He did so good, but I don’t think he knows that he only proved our point that he CAN make his own lunch…or shut up about what we give him! Lesson one.
But he also proved a point to me.
Never underestimate what your child can achieve on his (or her) own! Letting our kids be kids can AND SHOULD include letting them show us how much they’ve grown! Lesson two.
So you’re welcome ladies. In less than 10 years I’ll be sending this man into the world with the ability to cook you a great meal and not poison you. Even if he doesn’t eat it…
Both the kids ate noodles instead.
Apparently this week “we” are not eating foods that touch each other or are mixed together.
Lesson three. Letting him be a kid also means letting him be a kid.
Should have made the pudding too…