Muffins and life lessons

Tonight Jameson and I went out into the field and picked blackberries to make muffins after dinner. Dinner was finishing up and  Jer said "I'm going to the farm (his parents) to wash my truck and check the chicks" Jameson promptly decided to go with dad because the last few weeks I have become a second choice to daddy especially if it has anything to do with farming, 4 wheelers and/or RC cars.

So it was just us girls hanging out. 

As I am gathering all the ingredients to make some Blackberry Sour Cream Muffins Madalyn asks "Can I help you?" This seems like a simple request, but to be truthful having the kids help me in the kitchen isn't my favorite.  When Mad stirs the flour it goes flying, when she cracks an egg she smashes it on the bowl cracks it up high and back down low the egg plopping against the bowl or flour, sugar is all over the counter because she has to shake it all around the bowl before dumping it in. It is a general mess. I know it is just a mess and messes can be cleaned, but I really don't love it.

 Well, tonight I let her help (I know I always should!). We measured flour and as it flopped in the bowl and dusted everything within 5 feet she had a giant smile. She shook the sugar just right, spread the baking powder in the bowl; and out. As I am measuring the oil Mad notices we don't have enough so I ask her to grab the applesauce to make up the difference. She says "I thought we were making muffins?" and I get explain to her why you can use applesauce in place of oil. 

She says "did your Grandma Ethel teach you that?" 

Now if you know me at all you know that my Grandma Ethel is my favorite favorite favorite. Sometimes I still get teary eyes about how much I miss her. I think about how she would have loved Jer, my kids and how I can make a pretty good pie crust almost like her.

She was the best pie baker with a crust that doesn't compare to any.

I told Mad that my grandma didn't teach me that, but she did teach me a lot of other things.

Then came the questions about Grandama
"is she in heaven"
and it opened my eyes to what I haven't seen before.

How will Madalyn learn to make a pie crust, a loaf of bread, cookies or dinner if I don't let her make a mess and "help" me?

If I don't teach her who will?
If I don't slow down and see that a mess is just a mess (and I'm a pretty good mess maker myself when I am baking) I am going to miss out on bigger life lessons taught by a 7 year old.

It is more fun to crack an egg up high then down low because that is how they do it on T.V.
It is exciting to see how far the flour can dust up the sides of the bowl.

Sugar, well we love sugar at our house and if you get it on the counter you can clean it up with your licked finger when your finished baking.

I will never get this chance back and baking is more fun with her.

I can see that the conversations are only going to get better and better.

I need to remember that I used to be the one standing on the chair asking if I can lick the bowl and making a mess next to my grandma.

Thanks Mad for the little 7 year old life lessons.

Blessed is me...