I was reflecting the other night on various things and I started thinking (which is a bit easier for me to do b/c no one bothers me when I'm home ;), why do I love to cook and bake? Why do I love to read? Why do I clean exactly like my mom, when I SWORE that once I left home I would never clean that much nor clean ridiculous things like baseboards. I mean baseboards? Come on. But guess what, I cook just like my dad (he's the cook in the fam) and I clean EXACTLY like my mom and I love to read.
I attribute my love for cooking and reading from my mom and dad. They let me in the kitchen to watch and observe throughout my years. Sometimes I was invited to help, other times just to "set the table" (one of my dumb chores). But I was usually in there, watching, listening, reading recipes. I cut tomatoes and onions a very specific way from watching and listening to my dad. I love to read because I watched my dad and mom read and read to us. My mom shockingly, does not like to read books, but I saw her read magazines, newspapers and recipes. My dad is like me is constantly reading. Books all over the house. So I watched and observed what, how, where they read. Observation is one of the best ways to learn something. And what do kids do more than anything? Watch us. Listen to us, sometimes to our chargrin! They are sponges soaking up the environment around them. They always ask me, "How do you know that?" or "But why?". They ask questions constantly. Sometimes I find myself saying, "What?! What?! What?!" and then I think, step back, they are curious. Just like we all were as kids and even now as adults! We just have more background knowledge to infer and problem solve ourselves (and the invention of the Google ;)). So yes, I know kids can sometimes make the process in the kitchen, yard, laundry room, reading/free time often much more annoying, slower or messy, but think of all the learning going on! All that wonderful knowledge, love and life skills they are picking up from you! Let them ask all those questions. Show them the answers. Read them stories, recipes, articles. Let them try things and fail. Let them make a mess (sometimes). Give them books, videos, podcasts, apps! I just wanted to share my thoughts and hopefully you had some reflections of your own!
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