The other day I read an article about how they raised kids in the olden days. I am not sure if it is because I am a traditionalist but I love stories about “the good old days.” If I had my say PBS Masterpiece Theater and “Little House on the Praire” would be the only shows watched in my home.
Whenever I see films that have kids working in the fields, baking bread, milking cows. I pine for simpler times. I also get a little annoyed with what jobs my kids have in the house. I start to think that my kids are capable of so much more.
Now that I have been putting in more time at work, I need some more help around the house. So I have decided to turn to my kids for assistance. My kids are generally pretty helpful and it so happens that my daughter who is 8 years old has been wanting to do some of the cooking. I would love to have her take over kitchen duty.
I decided that I would let her cut up vegetables something she has been asking to do. I probably should have started with something simpler but she was genuinely interested in using a knife.
Well, I figured, if Laura Ingalls could do it- (I don’t really know if Ma Ingalls let her) so could my daughter. I gave her a little lesson in knife skills. I showed her how to move her fingers so that they are out of the way as she moves the knife across the vegetable. I showed her the best way to slice and dice. I stood over her as she worked her way through zucchini, red pepper, green pepper, carrot, celery, parsnip. She was great, I was nervous. I had to bite my tongue. All I wanted to do was say, “WATCH OUT! Watch your fingers!”
Now she is a pro- she has been asking for more and more vegetables. So I guess 8 year olds can use a knife. I knew they did stuff right in the olden days!