We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, don’t we? We pour our heart and soul into the foods we prepare to nourish ourselves and our families.
Yet in the kitchen, so much more happens than what’s on the surface.
Sure, we make good food. Good and healing food.
And…. we also nurture relationships with our children and spouse… and friends and extended family.
How we handle tasks, failures, and successes contributes to who we are as a person.
Whether we grow into who God wants us to be… or whether we stagnate.
Many of my life’s lessons have come in the kitchen. And I know yours have, too.
Thus the theme of this podcast series…
All I really need to know I learned in the kitchen.
In this series, I’m sharing “kitchen rules” — words to live by in the kitchen (and in the relationships, struggles, and successes that happen there).
So we can grow stronger and better through our experiences there.
Here are kitchen rules 1 to 5. Please share in the comments which rules spoke to you and why — and also share if you like this series and want me to continue it!
(Rules 6 to 10 are here and Rules 6 to 10 are here.)
P.S. I was inspired to start this series by listening to another (unrelated) podcast in which the author shares “rules” for his field of business. I heard that and thought, why not? This will work for the kitchen, too! Because whatever field you’re in, valuable lessons are there for the taking.
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Video from Periscope
I recorded this podcast live on Periscope last week and here’s the video from that! It’s just like the audio file above, except you can see it, too. 🙂
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All I Really Need To Know… I Learned In The Kitchen {Kitchen Rules 1 to 5}
Here are the first 5 “kitchen rules” in this podcast series. Please share in the comments which rules spoke to you and why — and also share if you like this series and want me to continue it!
1. What happens in the kitchen, stays in the kitchen.
Don’t let annoyances or grievances follow you into your family dynamics. It’s easy enough already to build up resentment over this and that.
2. You can’t please everyone.
If your family doesn’t always like what’s being served or wishes it would be done differently, that’s ok. It’s bound to be that way.
They will not starve and you don’t need to cook 5 different meals to account for 5 different preferences.
If they want something else, they can fix it themselves or go hungry.
3. You are the mom, not the maid.
You’re a mom and you may do cleaning and cooking, but it’s not your duty. It’s the way you show the family love. It’s your service to them, but it’s not who you are.
You are the mom, and part of that means knowing what you should and shouldn’t do.
What shouldn’t you do…
Don’t let family to walk all over you by doing things they should be rightfully doing themselves.
Picking up after themselves, pitching in, giving you a break once in a while, keeping things tidy in the cupboards, putting things away where they go.
As we say in Real Food Kids – everyone eats, everyone cooks.
How that looks in your family? That’s up to you and it’s up to everyone’s ages and availability. Think about what you could use help with, or what you’re doing that you shouldn’t be, and inform the family where you need their help. Usually it’s just a matter of communication. They don’t notice it because you’re not doing it.
Having said this, sometimes I like to simply bless one of my kids or husband by doing for them what they normally do for themselves. Just to say I love you.
4. Cultivate the habit of thankfulness.
One thing that my husband does — because he decided awhile back that it was important — is he says thank you. He says it for almost everything I do for him, even if it’s the simplest thing.
I love that. And I’ve learned from it.
Do you say thank you when your children help you in the kitchen? Do you show appreciation so they know it was worth it and meant a lot to you?
Also I’ve found that when someone thanks me, if I am energetic in my return of “It was my pleasure” or “You’re welcome” that the exchange is a big blessing to both of us. It affirms love and care on BOTH sides, not just one.
5. Kiss the Cook!
There’s a history to the phrase — how it got to be on the BBQ apron. Some of it funny and some of it deranged (you can Google it).
But anyway, now we have the phrase “Kiss the Cook”.
I don’t think it applies just to men who like to BBQ. It applies to anyone and even yourself, if you’re the cook.
Relationships are important and they can be built or ignored in the kitchen, too. So I think lots more kissing should happen in the kitchen!
This is related to #4 but it’s a bit more ACTIVE.
And of course the type of kiss depends on the relationship and I suppose the way the cook prefers to be handled while cooking (maybe they’re stressed out and a kiss would annoy them).
The point is — appreciate them with an ACTION in addition to a smile and a thanks.
My “kiss” of choice is usually a hug of thanks to the kids and my husband. Ok, and kisses to my husband. Or if they come in the kitchen when I’m cooking, I require hugs and kisses when they’re in there — for me, not them. They roll their eyes, but they indulge me and it keeps us close.
The kitchen can be fun — so bring your life and your loves in there with you! Grow in love rather than stop just because you’re cooking.
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you’re such a blessing to this older mom and grandma. i don’t feel “old” and i still can say, i wanna be like you when i grow up. your 5 kitchen rules are wonderful; and i try to catch most of your “extras” which have blessed me as well…usually after the fact, not “live”. you and your staff are definitely a ministry to me in this traditional cooking lifestyle….friends, to be sure. thank you.
Thanks so much. This was very encouraging. I have gotten into the bad habit of saying, “Get out of my kitchen.” You challenged me to cultivate thankfulness and affection in our kitchen.
Enjoy all those nice tips. You are such a blessing.
Wardee you make traditional cooking worth doing not only for health benefits but making it a choice and fill it with blessings and making it a desired task vs. a chore or an obligation you have to do. I am feeling I want to do this vs it being expected thing I required to do. I love more kisses and hugs too. Great 5 rules.
I loved this, Wardeh! I think it’s important that we cultivate love in the kitchen. God has made so many analogies in his Word about food and Jesus did much of His ministry around the table. How much than should we use our kitchens as places of ministry, not only to our own families but in hospitality as well. I’m behind on podcasts but looking forward to hearing the second installment.
Your podcasts regarding kitchen rules leave me grinning “ear-to-ear”. I am alone for a large part of the day….other than my furry dependents….and listening/watching your presentations definitely helps with feeling isolated and I can definitely relate to every item that you are speaking about!