Today was a "interesting" day in our home. I am always open to my kids trying new ways to engage in something educational. I love when they are super excited about doing something they have never done before! Since I homeschool part-time, we do the typical reading, writing, and arithmetic subjects (in ways that are also engaging...hopefully), but we really seem to find joy in the unexpected, unplanned teachable moments. However, I have found that with many of those "teachable moments" come risks that I have to be willing to allow my children to take. In the unexpected, teachable moments, I am often forced to remove the metaphorical "protective bubble" in which I encase my children. Today was a day where I consciously popped the "bubble" and allowed them to explore in ways where every moment of their physical safety was not guaranteed.
You will understand this photo soon!
My youngest daughter (age 5) takes a cooking class through her school. She is really enjoying it and comes home wanting to recreate the food fabulousness she makes in class. The first day of the class she made bruschetta. I was surprised to discover that she chopped tomatoes and onions. My mind thought, "MY five year-old CUT something with....a KNIFE! Can SHE do that? CAN she do that? Can she do THAT?" I asked her about the safety measures that were in place, and felt a little silly that I did not know about her true capabilities. Why had I never let her cut with a knife? Why did I think she was too clumsy, too little, and too young? I was happy to learn that the kids were not using machetes in class, but instead, were equipped with simple, child-safe cutting tools.
Now, move forward a few weeks to tonight. Tonight was "the" night. The night she would make bruschetta for the family. She cleared a space on our messy kitchen counter and got out all of her ingredients. It was fun to see her work from memory....no list. Tomatoes, onion, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, and toasted bread slices. I made it a point to "let her be" and only checked in periodically to see how she was doing....it was helpful that I was making dinner at the same time. :0) Due to my safety concerns (and the fact that we don't have a child-safe cutting utensil), I had her try using a butter knife to chop the tomatoes and onions. Who was I kidding? Talk about setting a kid up for failure! She quickly mentioned that her "knife" was not working.
I did not want to squash her enthusiam. Great learning can come from cooking! So, I figured my only choice was to "pop her protective bubble" and let her use a real knife. I walked over to my knife block...slowly, carefully....and picked out a......steak knife. Handing my five year old a steak knife just seemed strange. ***Anyone who thinks this was a terrible idea, please don't call child services on me*** I promise, I was as freaked out as you might be right now reading this!
A helping of steak knife with butter knife on the side...
We went over some safety precautions and I let her loose. I was so proud that I did not helicopter over her, but instead became okay with the fact that she "might" cut herself....a little. She was so happy as she chopped away at tomatoes and onions. She was careful, methodical, and cut (surprisingly) even- sized pieces. She dumped the chopped ingredients in a bowl and added basil, olive oil, and the vinaigrette. She mixed and mixed. Then she carefully spooned the mixture onto toasted bread slices spread out on a nice white ceramic plate. It was a masterpiece....and she knew it!
As she proudly put her plate in the center of the dining table, a very funny image appeared. Also on the table, right next to her beautiful bruschetta, was.....a broken, disassembled blow-dryer. You have one too, right??? No...oh. Well, about a week ago, my blow-dryer breathed its last breath in a puff of smoke and flame of glory. My oldest son asked if he could take it apart to see what the inside looked like. I immediately thought, "What the heck is in a blow-dryer? Is there anything toxic inside? Is it safe for him to disassemble?" I told him. "Sure!", but had every intention of dumping the thing when he forgot about it. He did not forget about it....and I did not dump it. So, earlier today, I made the executive decision to "pop his protective bubble" and let him rip the thing apart.
I still have no clue if there is anything toxic in the blow-dryer. I will "Goggle" it after I am done here. It was fun to hear his excitement as he discovered the inner workings of this hair drying wonder, and talk about the different connections he was observing. However, as evidenced today, he is a great project starter, but needs to grow in the area of project "completion" (it is a genetic defect passed down by his hot Daddy). Apparently, he had not finished Project Busted Blow Dryer and left it in disarray on the dining table.
Please ignore the sophisticated paper bag table runner...and focus on our "centerpiece".
So, our family sat happily around the dinner table tonight, enjoying dinner and conversation with a centerpiece of bruschetta and broken blow-dryer bits. I know it happens everyday in homes everywhere. Right? Right. Well, even if you don't have a beautiful centerpiece, Super Moms, I want to encourage you to allow your kids to explore in ways that you might not usually allow. I love my kids. I would die for my kids. I want them to be loving, healthy, happy contributors to society. However, I was challenged today to allow my kids to explore and experience things where they....just might cut themselves.....and possibly be exposed to something........toxic.....ooops.
"Pop the protective bubble" and allow your kids to explore things that intrigue them, experience things that they are passionate about...they may get a few bruises (or scars) along the way, but the learning and love for discovery that comes with it will be priceless.
Off to Google if there is anything toxic in a blow dryer....
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