So, the kids decided to bake this morning, right as Ethan and I sat down to have breakfast and coffee. They assured us that they would do everything themselves and clean up afterwards, but it wasn't long before we were heavily involved.
Rather than working together to collectively bake something, the girls opted to each make their own flavor of cupcakes. Julia had decided on confetti and Madeleine on red velvet.
They did a really great job of doing everything independently.
MADELEINE: Mommy? Do we have sugar?
ME: We should.
MADELEINE: What kind of sugar should I use?
JULIA: Confectioner's sugar.
MADELEINE: Is that the really messy kind?
ME: Yes.
MADELEINE: Uh, maybe I won't use it...
JULIA: (carrying the granular sugar to the counter) You can't skip ingredients.
MADELEINE: Can't I just use that kind of sugar, Julia?
JULIA: This IS confectioner's sugar, Madeleine.
ME: No, it's not.
Madeleine then began reciting every ingredient she needed, asking me if we had it. I encouraged her to check for things, and she totally aced it.
MADELEINE: Uh...white vinegar...
ME: You have to look for it. I don't know if we have any.
MADELEINE: Julia? Do we have white vinegar?
JULIA: Here's apple cider vinegar!
ME: No, you can't use that.
JULIA: White wine vinegar?
MADELEINE: Wait. WINE? So we're putting ALCOHOL in our cupcakes?
After Madeleine had gathered her ingredients, she was prepared to start throwing things together willy-nilly. Ethan had the nerve to suggest she read through the entire recipe instructions first.
MADELEINE: Okay: combine cocoa powder, boiling water, and buttermilk.
ETHAN: So think through that for a minute. After the water boils, will it stay boiling for long?
MADELEINE: No.
ETHAN: So what does that mean? Where should the cocoa powder be when you pour the boiling water into the bowl?
MADELEINE: Um...I'm getting Shannon.
A few minutes later, Auntie Shannon came upstairs, telling us Madeleine had gone to get her to help.
AUNTIE SHANNON: Madeleine came down and said: "Daddy's making everything COMPLICATED by making me GUESS what ingredients should go in when."
Pretty soon, all heck had broken loose in the baking arena. Julia started to come unglued when an egg rolled off the counter and cracked open on the kitchen floor. Demonstrating her strong sense of perserverance, Julia determined it was time to give up entirely.
JULIA: AGGGH! Forget it! I'm not gonna bake.
Auntie Shannon wisely pointed out that not following through was a waste of my ingredients, and convinced Julia to clean up the egg and carry forth.
Meanwhile, Ethan nearly stepped on the scissors Madeleine had moved from the table to the floor (along with her box of art supplies and piles of artwork) and things deteriorated further.
ETHAN: Madeleine. Nothing about this is okay.
MADELEINE: (scooping up the piles and moving them into her art basket)
ETHAN: Wait. Put the scissors where they belong.
MADELEINE: (succumbing to her martyrdom and woundedly carrying the scissors out of the room)
ETHAN: This is not safe. You can't put scissors on the ground.
MADELEINE: Then how come YOU always put stuff-
ETHAN: Madeleine. None of this is okay.
Madeleine decided to respond like the mature 9-year-old that she is and hide in her room under a blanket.
Julia then began freaking out because there wasn't enough granular sugar left for her recipe, and then, to top everything off, she accidentally dumped the measuring cup full of sugar all over the kitchen floor. Naturally, it was time to give up again.
JULIA: AGHHH! ForGET it! I'm NOT BAKING!
Before long, both kids were pouting in their rooms and Auntie Shannon was stuck finishing Julia's cupcakes. Ethan wound up having a long talk with Madeleine in her room, and they emerged committed to finishing the red velvet cupcakes together.
I'm so glad that Ethan and I got our relaxing Saturday morning breakfast time together. And never fear, Madeleine is not at all deterred by her morning's obstacles.
MADELEINE: Mommy? If I ever get on "Kids' Baking Championship," then: Yay, me!, because I already figured out everything I can do if something goes wrong!
I can imagine it would all go without a hitch.
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