Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb/89

Contributor - Elly DeHoog

Title - Taking Time to Smell the Bread

Topic - Parenting

My four year old daughter said to me the other day, "Mommy, how do they make bread?" I explained to her how bread was made. Later that day I added "make bread" to Adrienne's activity list.

I keep a running list of activities that come out of questions that Adrienne asks me on a day to day basis. Sometimes she asks to do a thing or visit a specific place and I add these to the list also.

Why do I keep this list? First, as I plan my week it helps me with each day's routine. By doing this, even when life gets hectic, as it often does in the 1980's I don't loose track of what is important to my children or what I can be teaching them. I am personally convinced the best way to teach children is not to lecture them but to give them "hands on" experiences; at the very least share in an experience to answer a question or to understand an idea.

Secondly, children are one of the most valuable gifts that God gives us. Whatever techniques I can employ to teach or train them is worth the effort. Keeping this list is but one of those ways.

This past Friday morning, Adrienne, Simon and I baked bread. The kitchen table was liberally covered with flour, as was Simon. The cookbook was unceremoniously splattered with dough. Our efforts produced two wonderful sixteen ounce loaves and a beautiful six ounce loaf. Today, Adrienne carved that little loaf, and the chunks, not the slices, were highly edible. I wish you could have been with us at the dinner table to see the expression of accomplishment on her face.

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