Today my seven-year-old daughter, Adriana, said she wanted a cucumber. She was so excited that our Misfit Market Madness box arrived with cucumbers! I was already in the kitchen preparing dinner.
As she washed, peeled, and began to cut her cucumber, she asked me what I was making. I told her I was creating a new pasta dish. Her response was,
When I get older, I want to make my own cucumber dish.
Immediately I said to her,
“You don’t have to wait until you are older to make your own creation. You can do it NOW.”
Do you mean I can make something right now? Absolutely I said while I watched her eyes light up. She went to work.
I was cooking on one side of the kitchen while she prepared her cucumber dish on the other side. She cut up tomatoes, added some avocado, sprinkled some red salt and for the finishing touch, sliced pepperoni. Adriana was so excited about her new dish.
We all tried it, and we all LIKED it.
As a parent, I want to instill in my daughters that they can be strong, independent, confident, fearless, kind, loving and creative. It’s important that they know they can DREAM BIG. If they work hard and set the intention, those dreams can come true.
When we give our children opportunities to experience and try new things, we are allowing their minds and spirits to grow. An environment where they thrive and build confidence will continue to set them up for success as they continue to get older.
Sure I might have those moments when I’m afraid they might cut themselves with a knife or fearful they might get hurt. Then I remind myself that the most important thing I can do is teach safety when cooking in the kitchen.
Most importantly I tell myself that they will get hurt; they will fall and get back up again. As their mom, I can give them a safe space to express themselves. I can be a shoulder for them to cry on and I can cheer them on as they get back up again and continue to move forward. I can encourage them every step of the way.
Today Adriana learned that she doesn’t have to wait to be a certain age to get in the kitchen and create. I look forward to more of her creations.
