The kitchen is the heart of all family homes. It’s where everyone comes together and sits down together to eat. Here we can find out what our children are doing, how our husband or wives are feeling. It’s a moment in the day where laughter and happiness can be shared amongst the whole family, all while enjoying a delicious meal.
The kitchen can also be a great place to teach your children new skills that they will carry with them through their lives. From something as simple as mastering how to perfectly hard boil eggs over and over again to showing your teenager how to make a roast dinner before they leave home and start a life of their own.
Recent times have forced us to stay in our homes a little more than usual, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen families all over the world put into quarantine, and our usual routines have been completely changed. While we may all be in the same house, it’s possible that our family time together has gone a little off-kilter. So there is no better time than to get the kids and your partner into the kitchen and start being creative.
If you have a birthday coming up then it could be fun to make a white cake from scratch, one of you can read the recipe whilst the rest of you work together to make, create and clean the kitchen. This will give you all a purpose while getting you together and away from the distractions of the day.
You could also take it in turns to make the meals. Maybe mum could cook with her son one evening, then dad and his daughter the next. Again this will give you valuable time and help you build strong memories with your family.
Communication is essential, particularly in times of crisis and the kitchen is a real hub for communication. You relax when you are at home, especially when there is food involved. Maybe your partner is struggling to remain positive about work, talking while making a delicious dinner together could take the pressure off and make it feel less intense to discuss. You will also feel closer together emotionally if you are making something for the whole family to enjoy.
Even something as simple as asking your eldest child to help you with the washing up can lead to deep and meaningful conversations which can help you reconnect with a teenager. The conversation will flow as you focus on the task in hand, and before you know it, you’ll get a more in-depth insight into their mental wellbeing. Perhaps they are concerned about upcoming exams or miss their friends. A laid back chat in the kitchen will help you discover lots of things you didn’t know.
Your kitchen is the hub of your home. Regardless of how many or how few people live in the house, you will always bring people together when food is the focus. So lay up the table, get everyone helping and enjoy these precious moments while you can.
