Heading back to basics

We've all read about it, possibly thought about it and maybe even attempted it, cooking with the kids. There is a great blog out called "Bella and Dash" where the mom cooks with the children every night and records it online. Check it out for a dose of humor and inspiration. Indeed, there is something special about cooking, I of all people know that, but like all other activities it can be hard to include little wandering hands and non-stop questioning minds.

The pay off, however, is great. It teaches our children something not only very useful, but something rewarding that can be refered back to all their life. Some of my best memories are whipping up some crazy from scratch meal in my very small ill equiped dorm kitchen with my best friend and college roomie, Rachie. It was a great stress reliever and "back to basics" moment for us. Cooking offers some soul soothing stuff that you just can't get from plan 'ol eating. There is magic and creativity in the process and much more room for error than people think.

Practically speaking, it helps us eat healthier (you tend to use less butter when you realize that a whole stick went into the potatoes already) and gives us an appreciation for the transformation of garden to table (another whole topic I will bridge into at a later date). Children absolutely love to learn about this amazing yet natural process. It does not have to be difficult or complicated; generally the simpiler the recipe the better it is anyways. Funny how this theme keeps popping up on me.

So, as dinner approached this afternoon I called Jonah into the kitchen and invited him to cook. I wish I had my camera out at that very moment to capture the pure excitement and joy on his face. Our menu: baked tofu bites and rice noodle salad with carrots and soy beans. (No, I'm not one of those vegetarian cooks or crazy soy lovers but I do believe that it is healthy and more importantly it was all I had on hand). An aside: I still need to work on simplifying my menu planning/shopping. I have always cooked off the top of my head with whatever was around, which is fun, but not the most time efficient or effective cooking method with 4 small children.

Now, a note about my children. My children are not picky eaters. They have no allergies and will at least try most of what I put down, but as they grow older they "become" pickier and pickier which is why I just don't buy it. They are discovering what they like and do not want to eat anything else. Well, I won't have it. PB & J is great, but not three times a day. So, I also am viewing my "back to basics" attempts to get my children in the kitchen as a way to continue to expand their palate instead of allowing them to shrink it. So, our menu was slightly daring. I generally cook two separate dinners, one for the children and one for the adults. I find that by doing this I am not only complicating matters, but also feeding the children less interesting meals and just whatever I think they might eat the most of and with littlest mess. This is not always the healthiest choice. Also, they tend to try more if I'm sitting next to them eating that strange looking green thing and saying things like, "Yum! This is so good."

I started Jonah out with shelling edamame and he took this job very seriously.



Showing off his work.



I need to get a bit better at capturing the right moment, but here is the finished product (before baking) of our tofu bites.



Now for the best part. The kids all ate it! Elias, who really does not eat meat much gobbled it all up and Jonah, who did have to fuss about not having PB & J, sat down and almost cleared his plate once he saw the twins eating. What a wonderfully fun dinner and a huge success. I am vowing to attempt to incorporate this basic activity into my weekly routine at least once or twice (per week). I want to continue to keep the balance of simplifying and holding on to my marbles, while focusing on the right stuff - so for now this is not a daily thing, but we'll see where it goes.

Peace,
Mama Soup

The Morning Routine

Such high aspiration I had for organizing and simplifying everything before school started. It just didn't pan out. I have the laundry room organized, and I have to admit that I have taken a few Mama "time-outs" as we call them in that very room. You know, when you want to put your child in time-out but either don't have the energy for that battle or are afraid you might toss them too firmly into the time-out chair, so instead Mama takes the time out. I used to go around the corner from wherever I was, but now the laundry room is my go to spot. Just being in the laundry room makes me feel more in control. I have only the items that belong in that room on the shelves and everything is labeled with words if they are for adults and with pictures if they are for the children (our laundry room is also our mud room/coat closet).

So, that is all I have gotten organized. Not that the rest of the house is destroyed, but it certainly has items laying around that only complicate matters. For instance, this morning while trying to feed the children I went in and out of my wonderful walk-in pantry about seven times. Each time I either moved the feather duster off of the shelf I was trying to use, tripped on it because I had thrown it on the floor the last time or ended up carrying it to the bathroom with me because I was telling someone to get back in their seat and I did not realize I was still holding the feather duster. Now, to make matters even worse, I don't even use this feather duster. I like the idea. I've tried to use it many times, but in truth it makes a mess. The feathers fly out all over the room and instead of cleaning up cob webs I am picking up stray feather. So, I'm not sure how much time I have waisted with my feather duster, but it just needs to leave my home. This is one of the many things that seem helpful, but is not.

Now, I know it seems like I should just go throw away that silly feather duster right now, but I have since forgotten where I shoved it when I chased Bebe down the hall with honey dripping from her hair. Maybe you can see now why I need to set aside special time to go through each and every room with a fine toothed comb and get rid of all the junk that at first glance does not look like junk. I need to simplify.

At least as I headed out the door I was able to grab each child's shoes with no fuss. They were clearly labeled in the lovely and newly organized laundry room. Come to think of it, I bet that's where the dreaded feather duster is now!

Peace,
Mama Soup

Re-introduction

Hello dear readers,

Today I am re-introducing my blog, mainly to solidify my point to myself, but also to give this writing a framework. I find myself composing blog posts in my head all day long, but as evidenced by my blog, they are rarely typed out. I have so much to say, weather it is interesting or not is up to someone else, but it must come out. My head is getting too cluttered and I have recently vowed to de-clutter my life. So here it goes.

A little background on the new found motivation: Simply put (as simplicity is my focus) I went on a month long trip with my four children and brought each person only five changes of clothing. It was wonderful! Never once did I wish I had some article of clothing that I did not bring and to my surprise, most of what I left behind I had actually forgotten about when I returned. I had first hand experience of "less is more" and it was so freeing. I want to apply that motto to my entire life. I want to get rid of all the stuff that junks up my house, my time, my brain and my car. I want to discover all of those things that I have said I "need" but really do not. I know that there are many others that want the same because I have read their blogs or articles and found motivation from them. It is my hope that I can hold myself accountable while at the same time, possibly, help motivate someone else.

Now, about me: I am a homemaker. I have a busy group of young cubs that fill my time with activities that seem like they should not be actual activities (like scrubbing jelly off door knobs). I've been known to honestly use the excuse, "I had to clean up poop from the floor" more than once as to why I did not do something I should have. In a nutshell, I'm busy chasing my tail and I don't need more stuff that is supposed to help save me time because really it just slows me down. Remember, Less is More (I say this to remind myself, not you).

I admit, I have fallen prey to all kinds of devices, organizers and books that have promised to help me get it all together but have only created more clutter for me to wade through as I try to find a clean diaper and a pack of wipes that actually has some moistness left (don't you find that these dry out if you even think about leaving it open?). That being said, now I will pause and give an exception. Tsh Oxenreider's book "Organized Simplicity" is wonderful. She is inherently organized and apparently a natural at keeping her life simple. I keep her book on my desk and refer to it often. I have used many of her suggestions and follow her blog, simplemom.net. Please check her out for some great resources.

Back to my re-introduction though. My time and words here are multi-faceted; I hope to blow off some steam (I’ve never met another parent that didn’t have steam), connect with other parents in similar situations and hopefully offer up some support and humor from our daily lives.

As a family, our goal is to live, grow and learn together while focusing on kindness and compassion. Our world seems to present more and more choices, which, while greatly appreciated, can make for a more hectic and stressful day. We strive to simplify our surroundings and find the joy in the little things we often overlooked. My husband and I want to raise our kids to appreciate others and see the beauty that the natural world has to offer. Sometimes it seems so complicated and difficult to take the simpler path, but we truly believe that it is the better path for our family.

Please join us on our journey to try and find the balance that so many of us strive for in our swift modern day world.