Hi, my name is Kelly and I write about being a dad. Let me tell you 
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Cooking Together
“Not now,” I said, wincing. I finished chopping the red onion and set it aside.
Alleke stood at my feet and reached for me to pick her up. When that didn’t work, she wedged her way between my legs and the counter and began pushing me out of the kitchen.
I set the knife down, kneeled, and looked Alleke in the eyes.
“Look,” I said, “I can’t hold you and cook at the same time.”
I leaned in and gave her a kiss. “You’re going to have to wait until I’m finished.”
Alleke frowned, sat back on her haunches like a weightlifter, and began to howl.
I was cutting around the stem of a red pepper when April walked into the kitchen to see what was the matter. She didn’t say anything, just looked down at Alleke, all crumpled up like a discarded soda can, then scanned the room until she found what she was looking for, a small wooden step stool. She drug the stool across the floor until it was in front of the dishwasher next to me.
April picked up our ball of tears, gave her a kiss on the back of the neck, and set her on top of the stool. Then she left.
Alleke whimpered some more, and then she was quiet. She cocked her head and peered up at me.
I smiled.
She whimpered again, and then as if someone had pulled the string on a lawnmower, she erupted into laughter, her whole body rattling. It took a minute before she calmed down enough to stand up and look around.
I reached across the counter for a bag of green beans and set them down on front of her.
“I need your help,” I said. I opened the bag and pulled out a small handful of beans.
“These need to go in the sink, so we can wash them,” I added, “like this,” and I tossed the handful into the sink.
Alleke looked up at me and giggled. Then, she stood on her tippy toes, reached across the counter, and shoved her hand into the bag.
Alleke and I made the Easy Summer Pasta Salad from the Moosewood Restaurant Low-fat Favorites cookbook
MORE ON: alleke, dad, food, parenting, toddler
3 COMMENTS
I love cooking, but since Alleke arrived, I haven’t been able to justify spending a big chunk of time in the kitchen preparing a meal when I know I could be spending that time with April and Alleke.
I’m thrilled that Alleke can join me now in an activity that we both like doing to unwind.
February 11, 2008 at 8:46 am
The little ones always want to help. Then they become teenagers.
February 11, 2008 at 9:24 pmLEAVE YOUR COMMENT
Anonymous said...
I just started getting our son involved in cooking. It takes a bit of creativity to find things he can do. Unfortunately, he is not steady enough to leave him on a stool by himself, so I need to hang on with one hand all the time. It takes a bit longer but it sure is fun (most of the time).
-Sharla VR
February 9, 2008 at 4:08 pm