I speak picturish

Her way

There is little to no tradition for kitchen time in the family I come from. So I find myself wondering how come don't I find it challenging also?! Slowly but surely my kids moved in the same direction.
At first there was a big cooking set that a generous friend got them last Christmas. You know, one of those toys that are complex enough to give you ideas and simple enough to let you play "your way". So we had countless gatherings and tea parties, there were soups made and cakes baked and everybody's been happy for a while.
But today the Missy said she wanted to play "my way". After pondering and trying to decide what to make for dessert - I was offering pancakes or gaufres - she decided: we'll make Puffy Cake.
Yeah, right! Like it was really on the list, this one, was it?! So I told her as a patient but also tight-on-schedule mama: "Then you do it, by yourself." And I was already reaching for the milk to start the pancakes when she said in a determined voice:

"I need a big bowl.
And flour.
 Why do you keep it on the top shelf???
 And I want eggs. How many do I put? Why only...?
I need more room on the table."
 Help- me -lift -and-could -you -pour  became one word for a new cook.

And suddenly I found myself as a helper, not so sure of myself, not so sure I was about to start pancakes anymore, but careful not to break her rhythm and her concentration.

 And then she took a short break to help those Parisian cats while humming scales and arpeggios...

 And then she carried on...

 When the baking dish seemed full enough the rest of the mixture found another place to go. :)))

And when everything was done, I looked in her sparkling eyes as she asked "can we do it again like this?"
Oh, yes, for sure!

I speak picturish

Wonderful people, charming  music.

Responsible parenting

What would "responsible parenting" be?
First:
Close your eyes when you should!

Then:
Get to work when you're needed!

Always:
Keep an open heart and mind in order to enjoy the laughter...

I speak picturish.Trees

Trees are for:

:: bearing fruit

:: hugging

:: counting when you play peek-a-boo

:: climbing

:: trying your strenght

Early

Waking up before dawn could be challenging for me... especially during late Fall.
But driving that early could definitely change the perspective!

Play

In love with kids, my very own and those that only stay with me for a couple of hours each week, I keep a pretty steady rhythm. There is a balance between work and fun and a very thin boundary between teaching and playing.
But school holidays are tricky: I still have loads of work to do, though there are no kids around me. Things look neat all through the day, pencils stay in their jars, whatever I put on my desk is still there half an hour later. Strange things, I'm telling you... None of these would have happened on a regular basis.

And then I take out those books that I put aside for "whenever I'll get the time" and that big pile of movies that I've kept on my windowsill for a moment like this.

With the kids away, it was my turn to "Play".

I speak picturish