Kids, I have found just want your unadulterated love. No matter how you show it, they love receiving your attention- on their terms; even to the point of our distraction!
My boy is home for half term currently and is part of why I feel I have no time left in my days of late; as I'm trying to keep him forever occupied. However, I just happened to find a project that covers a lot of good points all around and has now seemed to become a favorite practice for all of us every few days. What is this secret, magical, causing no arguments, encourages camaraderie, project that we all enjoy; you ask? Bread; that's right I said bread!
It happened after an evening of watching telly together, for those of you who know remember back about 2-3 nights ago when a certain cottage farming program was on, and they were discussing making bread; not in a machine but by the old fashioned, do it yourself, by hand method. I initially looked at and long fully lusted after having such a talent; then I quickly had a nightmarish vision of the one time in my life I attempted to make bread and well- lets just say it made a fabulous door stop; so I dare not do another attempt at this mystical bread making as I care about my family to much to harm them in this way. Much to my dismay, by the end of the show my husband looked at me and said lets give that a go, I just looked at him and said yes, you go ahead with that!
The next day, before I realized what my hands were really doing, my husband walked into our kitchen to find me; radio- blasting rock tunes, my hair pulled crazily into a ponytail and me, elbow deep in dough with an "I'm going to conquer this" look of determination on my face! I swear, he tried not to hide his squelching smirk on his face. But I trooped on, then my 6 year old ran in, "What ya doing Mum?" "Wrestling with dough", I said. He raised his eyes at me over his glasses and said "Good luck with that!" Off he ran away. Blowing hair off my brow, I carried on then sat down with a book during the "proofing" time.
By the end of everything we actually had, I'm pleasant to say, a half decent loaf of fresh baked bread! My son exclaimed that "poofing" time, no I didn't misspell he said poof, was cool and could he try it next? Then my husband chirped in; maybe next time you could try this kind of pan, or this type of bread. So I threw the gauntlet down and said we're all having a bread off, every few days one of us will make a loaf of bread and compare it. My son loved that idea, being a boy and loving to get his hands grubby, while my husband loving a competition, agreed with a boyish grin of self satisfaction!
Yesterday was our sons turn making bread and I have to say his, is so much better than my attempt. He really got into and tried out all sorts of ninja moves on the dough to beat it into submission; then massaged the dough to relax it, so it could "poof" properly. He also found he loves baking now! So add another life skill to his ever strong bow of success, we're all getting nourished with healthy food, and we have immensely enjoyed tasting, while critiquing, every ones bread attempts. All of this without any arguments about life; in fact I'd say we've been doughed over to a state of pure bliss! Find something similar and to your likes then give it a try; who knows what joys you'll find. Thanks for the encouragment Hugh!
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