Though we don’t need an excuse to get together or bake, we recently had our annual pre-Christmas cookie bake with our daughter and the kids. Our granddaughters love baking and cookies are a favourite. Ever the teachers, my husband and I use the opportunity to teach fractions from the practical examples afforded by measurement. However, baking provides so much more.
This year, their two year old brother participated for a time as the girls chopped cherries. He grinned and ate as they chopped. He is not a fan of sweets usually but the cherries were the exception. Later, he didn’t eat any cookies though.
The hours went quickly by as we baked and tidied between batches. The girls are as helpful cleaning up as they are baking. They especially enjoy making cookies they can get their hands in, which makes the cleaning up a chore, but fun in a gooey, messy way. We had tacos for supper and the tasty morsels for dessert.
What makes cookie day so great? While cookies are yummy, that’s not the best part. Best is the time spent together, without the distraction of television and other screens. It’s being able to enjoy each other’s company, sharing stories, jokes, songs while we work and having a scuff* if there’s time.
As I watched our daughter with the kids, explaining a recipe to them, listening to their questions, I thought, these kids are in good hands, be it about cookies or anything else.
*In Newfoundland English, a scuff is a dance.
