So, I thought he could help me make dinner by stirring something on the stove, then I decided that was a really bad idea with mr. grabby even under the closest supervision and with my haste to get dinner done. So, instead, I put him to work making his own dinner. I grabbed a bag of dried 10 bean soup that has been in the cupboard forever, gave him some measuring cups, tupperware, measuring spoons, and let him have at it. He had a blast "making dinner." He was out of my way while also feeling like he was helping me.
Starting the soup.
Carefully measuring.
Transferring from one bowl to the next with the measuring cups.
Forget the measuring cups...
Okay, so somewhere in there, pea decided his hands were sticky so he needed to move his chair over to the sink. Now, he LOVES playing with the water in the sink. So, he got a bit distracted from his soup while getting himself wet at the sink. Actually, I was shocked to discover there was hardly any water on the floor! It all ended up on his shirt. Sooooo....
off with the shirt and back to the soup (note the wet shirt draped over the chair!).
Somehow he snuck his sippy cup of water over to the soup station, opened it up, and dumped all the water into the soup (and put some beans in his cup). Well, OF COURSE! You gotta have water for soup, right?!
Amazingly, there really were not that many beans on the floor! It was pretty fun watching him play and explore while I cooked dinner. I admit, I am not really that great at coming up with creative ideas like this so I felt like a brilliant mom tonight. hehehe! No, seriously, it is hard to balance working all day while also dealing with all of the other day to day responsibilities like cooking dinner, paying bills, etc while still fitting in quality time and activities. I sometimes have those mommy guilt moments feeling like I should be providing more structured and stimulating activities for pea at home. Anyone else feel like that sometimes? What activities do you do with your toddler?
4 comments:
That's awesome! I LOVE it and very creative indeed! ;-)
You go, Mom!
And I knew you would get and appreciate my Garbage Trek episode! So far I've lived through a backyard re-enactment of "Filthville," a very messing making of "chocolate milk" in "shakers" just like the Spies(have you seen the 1 hour episodes - sweet!), now Garbage Trek and countless others as well!
So, I was just thinking that you inspired me. Dinner time is ALWAYS a tough time. This is so much better than shoving him in front of the TV, which I admit I am guilty of. I am so going to do this.
Being creative and doing enough is a struggle for all of us. I don't work, but with all that we have going on, I still feel that way, often. You do so great!!!
Now, I must copy the recipe for your chicken the other night!!
That was very creative to give him some dired bean soup to "make." children seem to love being a helper. anything that makes my daughter feel as though she is helping mommy is a huge hit. when I need her to leave a room (so that we can get going to the car in the morning) I'll say can you help mommy by turning off this light -- and she'll jump up from her playing and do it -- aha, now I've got her standing up near the door and it's easy to get her to follow me out of the room. so helping mommy is my psychology! it works in almost every setting. can you help mommy pick out your pj's? can you help mommy find your sippy cup? your little pea loves helping make dinner I can see!
Sabrina loves to "help" in the kitchen. And I have trouble dealing with all of the things you mentioned and I don't work all day so kudos to you!
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