So each time a holiday rolls around I think how much fun it would be to make sugar cookies with my boys. They can actually get involved and feel like they helped. I have cookie cutters for Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Plus the little mini set from Pampered Chef that includes a heart, clover, flower, chile pepper, star, pumpkin and apple. So it kind of fits all seasons. And we have a fire hydrant too.
I made the dough one afternoon with Parker and we put it in the fridge to chill. Well that particular night there was too much going on to make cookies, so the next day we pulled out the dough and made cookies. Both boys were awake and excited to be helping with making fun shapes. I could hardly get the dough rolled out fast enough. Of course the whole time I am answering Parker's questions to the running commentary.
What are we doing?
Why are you rolling the dough?
I want to help?
Why are you making fire hydrants, trees, boots (whatever cutter I chose)?
I want to make a star.
Then as soon as they come out of the oven he couldn't wait to sprinkle with the colored sugar. He liked to cover them generously. Which if you waited until they were cool you could tap the excess off and the whole cookie was covered and it was actually really pretty. He was also eating them as fast as they were coming off the pan. Then more commentary.
Why are you putting them in the oven again?
I want to eat them.
I want to put sugar on them.
What happened (to the ones that broke as I was pulling them off the cookie sheet)?
I guess he is learning. We didn't finish all the cookies. I had doubled the batch because in the past the dough didn't seem to make much. I was frustrated by the end. I always have these visions of having so much fun with my boys and all it did was stress me out. Perhaps I have my expectations too high or try to be too much of the perfectionist. Every time I do this I end up asking myself what was I thinking? This is too much work. I should just stick to brownies.
I just asked Parker if he had fun making cookies last week and his reply, yes, I want a cookie at Grandma's house.
3 comments:
I liked the commentary- it sounds familiar. Expectations are a funny thing, I find that I enjoy Andrew's help in the kitchen more if I don't expect him to help and try to accept before hand that it will be twice as hard with him helping than it would be without.
I am sorry you didn't enjoy this. Maybe you should let him have some of the dough to roll out himselfand cut out himself that way you get some pretty cookies and he gets to learn and be a part of the "helping" process. I have a great cookie playdough recipe if you need it it works great.
Ahhhh.... so familiar. I also need to lower my expectations when I have 'helpers' in the kitchen. I wish it were easier to let the small stuff go- like who cares if my boys put the chocolate chip eyes on the right spot on our ghost sugar cookies? Apparently, deep down, I do. I am getting better, though. Good luck!
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