My Facebook memory noted seven years. The boy was three and loved his bubbles. He also loved helping me cook even at that age. Usually, it only took me two or three times longer to make a recipe with his help. His love of cooking has him watching cooking shows, makes cooking classes his choice of summer activities, and gives him a radar that zings when his mother heads to the kitchen.
In these intervening seven years, we’ve bought a place together with his parents that leaves only a bit of yard and a creek (or ditch with this summer’s drought) separating our houses, making it convenient for him to run down and cook with me, especially when I am making biscuits. He has taken on the role of sous chef.
Seven years has made a difference. Slowly, my time for creating a recipe with the help of this sous chef has shortened to match the length I could cook the dish by myself or even quicker. This week we switched roles. He took the biscuit recipe I had written out for the adult grandchildren and became the chef while I was relegated to sous chef. With a cross between coaching and cheerleading from me, he turned out a tasty pan of biscuits.
Owen will turn ten next month. Am I proud of the focus and talent of my cooking companion? For sure!
Do I miss that bubble-blowing three-year-old? You bet!