With the weather getting warmer and the nights getting longer, it takes me back to my summer days as a young girl. I remember they were filled with activities of all sorts from making sailboats to float down the sidewalk gutter to building sand castles in the sandbox fulfilling my princess dreams. However, when summer begins to peek its head around the corner, one person immediately comes to mind: my dad.
Those summer days with my dad are some of my fondest memories. Dad took me fishing, swimming and hiking. He taught me how to throw a baseball “like the boys do” and pushed me on our backyard swing set until I could hit the branches of a nearby tree with my feet.
Whenever dad could take off work, we would go camping for the weekend. I looked forward to every meal. My dad was an excellent cook and he made sure that I was involved with every step of the cooking process. When I was little, dad would let me stir up the omelet mixture, but as I got older, he would hand me the spatula and let me manage the hash browns, watching to make sure I didn't’t let them burn. He taught me that you can never have your bacon too crispy and he even let me in on his secret to a perfectly cooked trout: lemon juice and a pinch of sugar.
When I was young, I learned so much from my dad and I want my kids to have the same types of experiences with their father. It’s fun and easy to involve your kids in the cooking process. Give your kids little jobs they can handle – so they feel like they can contribute as well as do a good job. As they become more experienced, let them have bigger assignments, helping them feel proud of what you have both created together.
This time spent together around the camp stove will be something you and your kids will cherish for years to come. I still treasure the hearty smell of warm hashbrowns and crisp bacon every time we venture into the great outdoors! |
