Baking with kids is undeniably a joyful experience—at least that’s the impression I get from scrolling through Pinterest, where I often find myself comparing my parenting to those picture-perfect moments. I’ve been there, and it never quite goes as smoothly as those Instagram posts suggest. Believe me, none of the following ever happened—especially not multiple times—during the afternoons when I’ve caffeinated myself enough to convince myself that baking with my little ones is a fantastic idea.
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“No, we’re sticking to the simple recipe with five steps, not ten.”
Honestly, who would search for “easy cookie recipes” without also wanting to create something that would delight their children? And seriously, why are there recipes labeled “super easy four-ingredient cookies”? I’d much rather dive into the rainbow-layered cookies that look like they require three weeks of preparation because, of course, I want my kids to have the best.
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“Mommy already prepared everything.”
Isn’t half the fun in gathering the ingredients together? Finding the right mixing bowl, digging out the sprinkles, and pulling out the spoons can be just as enjoyable. Only a heartless person would do all the prep work during naptime to avoid the inevitable mess that comes with kids in the kitchen.
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“Let’s not include your sister; she’s napping.”
Come on! It’s essential that all the kids participate. Equality among siblings is crucial—much more important than maintaining your sanity or limiting the chaos to just two of the three children during this “wonderful” family activity.
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“I’ll handle the pouring; you just turn on the mixer.”
Seriously, do you even deserve to be a parent if you don’t let your kids try (and hilariously fail) to get flour into the bowl? They should at least have the chance to make a mess, which, inevitably, will involve flour on their clothes, the floor, and somehow, the baby in the highchair. It’s all part of the adventure!
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“Here’s your tiny ball of dough. Yes, that’s big enough.”
A real mom would let her kids dive into the whole bowl of dough. Who cares if the cookies end up looking deformed? It’s not about perfection; those unique creations will mean more to the kids—and your Instagram followers—than perfectly shaped cookies.
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“Oh no, you might get salmonella!”
Real moms let their kids enjoy a bite or two of raw cookie dough. After all, childhood memories are often tied to little indulgences like this, even if it means dealing with the inevitable chaos later.
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“Oops, I forgot the icing!”
How many times have you ventured to the grocery store thinking you should stock up on icing for cookie day, only to forget it yet again? If this has ever happened to you, you might want to reconsider your parenting card!
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“Yikes! I completely forgot about the cookies!”
What kind of parent wanders off to another part of the house, forgetting about cookies baking in the oven? Probably the same one who loses track of what they were even doing in the first place.
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“These look terrible.”
Every parent knows the mantra: “Make lemonade out of lemons!” But what if the lemons are rotten? On the bright side, your kids will have some unforgettable stories for their future therapy sessions.
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“Why don’t we just grab some Chips Ahoy?”
Alarm bells! This single phrase raises so many red flags. Who even keeps junk food at home, and what example does that set for kids? Eating cookies right before dinner? That’s just asking for trouble!
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In summary, baking with kids is a delightful chaos that teaches us to embrace imperfections while creating lasting memories. It’s a journey filled with laughter, mess, and the occasional disaster that makes parenting an adventure.