Ever since the pandemic began, people have been searching through their homes for places to go and do things and ideas for activities to preoccupy their time. It's no wonder that the kitchen has become that meeting place and cooking that activity. People naturally like to create and cooking satisfies that need. And cooking does something else-it brings people together. Young ones love to learn cooking from parents and grandparents and all family love to mingle in the kitchen together preparing a feast for all to enjoy.One could say the since the pandemic, the kitchen has become the social hub for families.
One of my favorite pasttimes is teaching my grandson to cook. He has a real passion for cooking and is interested in everything I do in the kitchen. Over the past several months, we've canned tomatoes, baked cookies and quick bread, cooked numerous dinners, and baked and frosted a cake for his grandpa's birthday. With each cooking creation, he takes away a little more knowledge and we always go over safety around the stove and hot or boiling pans. But the significant thing is that as we cook, we talk and I learn so much about what is going on in his little head. We talk about school, his friends, what he's been doing in his free time. It gives us a chance to really connect and I just love those times when it's just us in the kitchen, cooking and talking. What a great way for all parents and grandparents to connect with their children and really learn what they're thinking. In this day and age, with all the corruption on the internet, etc. it's important to connect with our children and the kitchen gives us that perfect place.
But children are not the only family members who can enjoy a cooking session. The older family members also can enjoy connecting with each other-talking, laughing and sharing cooking tips together. Who knows, you might just come away with a new cooking method or tidbit when all is said and done. Teens and the young adults really enjoy these kitchen gettogethers where they can try to outcook the other. They seem to really like the challenge of creating that dish where they can show off their cooking skills. What a wonderful sight to see young and old gathering together and sharing their skills as they prepare a simple meal for the family to enjoy.
Many have complained about the pandemic and being shut in as ruining their social life for the last 2 years. I say it has been welcome-not for the sickness and deaths of course- but for the cloistering where family has gone back being a family and doing activities together and taking the time to listening to each other. For so many years, we missed this aspect. People had been in such a rush and family meals together were put off to the wayside. Instead, a quick tv dinner or a burger on the go substituted for that family dinner and i have seen firsthand the effect it's had on the young. We have always been a family who shared the evening meal together and I can't tell you how many young people-friends of my sons-have showed up at dinnertime eager to eat with someone and knowing our home was a place they could go for sharing. listening, and laughing together.
I also have observed how the pandemic has helped in another way-by pushing family members together to do activities together- and cooking has been one of those special activities. So, grab your family and take advantage of your time together and have a cooking afternoon or evening and start connecting. Instead of complaining about being shut in, lets take advantage of the time we have to spend together amd use it to make our families stronger. I've always been one to see a misfortune as an opportunity instead and in this case, the pandemic has been a great opportunity to bring families closer. This is something that has been a long time coming!!
