More and more our kitchen has become a family sanctuary, of sorts; a place where we come together, a place where we spend time laughing and cooking; making sustenance…for our bodies and souls.
The big kids have enjoyed making cakes, cupcakes, pancakes and scrumptious brownies. The delight of making something tangible is etched upon their smiling faces, they stand just a wee bit taller for having done something and done it well. They are, my not so little Iron Chefs.
I am joyful that we share this love of cooking…really, this love of food.
I often, if not daily spend hours, planning meals and cooking. For me, laying the table with good, hearty and whole foods is a true labor of love. With every movement, I instill a piece of myself and pray that it helps them grow to be happy and healthy adults. That our time eating and talking is laying the foundation for strong communicative families of their own.
Patrick loves whipping up a quick meal, always trying to out do me, (never succeeding, of course.) There is always lots of sizzle and singing when he graces the stovetop…not to mention the mess! No matter what he cooks up, it’s always filled with fun! (Oh, and salt!)
Even Madison is getting into the mix. She loves to chop and stir; she is my little prep cook. She makes quick work of carrots and potatoes. There isn’t a vegetable she hasn’t mastered. She loves throwing the odds and ends into the sink and moving on to the next task. This was our routine, until last night…
Last night changed the way we look at cooking with our little girl. Last night our sassy princess almost lost her right hand- seriously.
Maddie was chopping some celery and string cheese, (her snack of choice) while Patrick and I put the finishing touches on our Caesar Salad ala’ Jirkaville, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blur at the sink.
I heard the whirl of the disposal.
I turned to see her arm swing over the sink.
I ran and whisked her away as her hand entered the small dark hole.
My heart in my throat, tears in my eyes.
Patrick switched off the disposal, Madison crying-not understanding.
For all the time we have spent in the kitchen as a family, we have yet to have a serious conversation about safety. Yes, they know that knives are sharp and fire is hot; but what about the proper way to hold a vegetable while slicing it? How you should turn the pot handles when cooking.....Or that you could lose a hand in the garbage disposal.
We realize that we have some work to do in the old sanctuary before it’s a sanctuary, again.
Kitchen safety will be the hot topic in our kitchen from now on.
How about yours?
4 comments:
Oh wow. Good save, Mom!
And how dare those "real, live" people on FB keep u away. haha. My addiction is myspace. I keep in touch with my REAL friends when picking up the phone just isn't feasible (or possible cuz of the noise level around here!)...but I looooove stalking people on it!
Glad 2 see ur back. Hoping 2 become more regular myself...great new look! :o)
See! This is why I don't cook. It's simply dangerous.
I envy your love for cooking. I truly wish I could find joy in it. I don't.
So...safety in the kitchen is NEVER an issue in my home as we rarely cook.
And when we do?... It's pasta and sauce or pre-prepared salad or tuna from a can. The tuna one can be dangerous as I've sliced my hand requiring stitches one time while removing the lid so kids are forbidden from this task.
This is only a slight exaggeration.
I'm glad your daughter's hand is intact.
I'm not so great in the kitchen.
I just can be good in every room.
Just this morning, I spent 4 minutes searching thru pumpkin bread batter for a piece of egg shell!
My safety tip: Buy appliances with 'locks' on them. I use my oven lock daily. And I'm hitting myself that I bought a fridge w/o a lock on the ice maker.
Scary. I can't even think about the whatif's.
Post a Comment