Our new kitchen rule
I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. Since we instituted this new policy, I have children begging for the privilege of planning and cooking a meal, any meal. Even those who were reluctant cooks are now vying for the right to cook dinner. Breakfast or lunch is just too easy.
Here’s the magic: Now that we have 4 children who are fully capable of cooking and/or doing dishes (and 2 more who can be significantly helpful), there are plenty of hands to share the labor. The new rule is that whoever prepares the meal is excused from the dishes that follow.
Voila!
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Filed under: Everyday life, food
My parents were also wise enough to come up with that rule too. Hence the reason why my baby sister and I ended up doing most of the dinners in the week.
Doesn’t work now, my parents only have 2 of the 4 kids left home, so everybody has to pitch in.
The good news is that you’re also giving your kids a chance to learn how to cook, that’s where I learned most of my cooking skills, from not wanting to do the dishes!
Pure genius, Kim! Why didn’t you think of this before? Actually, this was my favorite part of learning to cook. My Mom worked and she would just tell me what ot fix, when to start each thing, how long it should take, etc and I did the rest on my own! Was she desperately tired or what? Anyway, the deal was,since I cooked, I didn’t have to clean up. What a shock when I married and had to do both!
By the way, this is the first time I have left a comment, but I have been reading regularly for about 2 months. I think I linked here from Lines from the Vine. I enjoy your site very much.
Melinda
Wow. I love to cook, and I hate doing dishes, so I haven’t even offered that option to my kids! (yet)
I have five, and the oldest two are 7 and 10 - boys. My first girl is only 5, so…I am starting to have her with me more in the kitchen. And, yes, I know boys can (and should) learn to cook. They do make breakfast for themselves anyway.
What a fantastic idea. I know I would much rather cook than clean up–and I’m all grown up.
LOL! My mom did the same thing to us too. And now when my sister visits me with nannying services, we seem to have the same unspoken rule.
You cook; I’ll clean.
Love your blog!
Sounds pretty good but do you have a problem with the cooks being carelessly sloppy and dirtying too many dishes since they aren’t the ones who will have to clean up?
Cindee,
Great question! Part of the deal is that the cook has to clean up the prep mess, which includes putting away ingredients, stacking dishes near the sink, and wiping up excessive messes. If I catch a cook dirtying dishes unnecessarily, she knows full well she’ll have to wash them and usually does it w/o being told - like when they start out with a too-small pan and have to switch to another.
What a brilliant idea!
Sounds like a plan to me!