The Linda Family

Ashleigh has become even more involved in the kitchen recently. She has always enjoyed sitting with me while I cook, and does what she can to help, but this week she discovered the chef set she got for Christmas. There were a few toys I had put away so that she wouldn’t try to play with them right away, since we had family in town. I was concerned that two toddlers + Ashleigh’s new toys = disaster. So, she opened up her drawer this week and found her box that has her apron, chef hat, dish towel, oven mitt, hot pad, wooden spoon, and rolling pin. Her first reaction was “Look Mom! How cool is this?!” Then she wanted to go cook. She was asking what we could make to use her rolling pin, and of course my first thought was sugar cookies So, for the next 24 hours she BEGGED me to make cookies. Finally, we made a chicken pot pie for dinner, and I let her use her rolling pin to help me roll out the crust. She was very proud of herself and kept yelling, “I’m doing it! I’m doing it!” while rolling out the dough. I had to laugh. It was the funniest thing.

The next day she wanted to wear her get up again. So, we put it on, and we made soup for lunch. She got up on her stool and used her spoon to stir and taste test the soup. She again, was so proud of herself for “cooking lunch.” Of course, it all started with baking some bread with Grandpa and then moved into playing kitchen for real….And now she loves to cook. Maybe by the time she’s 12 that can be her chore

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One thing most parenting experts agree on is that once you have made a decision you are to stick with it. If you say no, be consistent about it. Well, today Ashleigh was testing that theory. It was naptime. She was not happy about that fact. She had tried multiple stalling techniques and none of them were working for her. She had ONE more card up her sleeve, and she was hanging on to all hope for a delay of that naptime.

We have gotten into the habit of reading before bed. Since Christmas we have been reading a Bible story or two (depending on how long each story is) at bed time. This started as a stalling technique, but it has turned into a bed time ritual. We started with Creation and we are now reading about Isaac and Rebekah.

So her naptime stall….She had her blanket, and Bella (her build-a-bear dog), and we were getting her in her bed when she blurted out, “I WANT TO READ THE BIBLE!!!” Well, how exactly do you say no to that one? Wes and I were both laughing, trying not to let her see….So, I grabbed her Bible and we read two short stories. I guess we will start putting her to sleep anytime with the realization that we may end up reading the Bible first. At least it’s a good book!