With plenty of time indoors, it seems like a good time to return to a few favorite activities—like letting kids bake their own cake! Here’s one with an illustrated recipe that the kids can easily follow. We did this one when Hudson was three-years-old, so the printable recipe cards are designed for non-readers (and you’ll notice my kids are a lot younger in the photos). I’m looking forward to letting both kids do every step on their own this time!
Gâteau au Yaourt—a French yogurt cake—is a popular goûter (or afternoon snack) in France, rumored to be one of the first things children there bake. The idea is that (almost) the entire, simple recipe can be made off the measure of a 1/2-cup yogurt container. Here’s how we did it…
How’s everyone doing? I keep trying to offer myself phrases like “it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” in moments of positivity, and then I mutter under my breath “only I’m not an f’ing runner and I’ve never attempted a marathon,” so [throws hands up].
A friend asked me how I handle the anxiety of Aron going off to work at the hospital every day, and it’s one of the times this whole suddenly-responsible-for-all-of-my-children’s-education bit has a silver lining. Who has time to worry about him? (Kidding, kidding.)
“We’re surviving,” is the sort of platitude I might usually offer in this sort of duress. But that feels a little too on the nose when the matter might literally involve life and death. But, honestly, “we’re surviving,” is also the thing that also helps put all of this into perspective. Whatever business losses are scaring me, whatever frustrations I feel about being thrown into this role, I’m grateful every day that we’re surviving—especially as I brace myself for all of this to get much worse before it gets better.
Still, don’t worry—I won’t go full Pollyanna on you if you want to gripe together. I’m as overwhelmed by all of the homeschool resources being emailed my way and as daunted by the days ahead as any one! California is on lockdown and schools are likely out through fall. I’ve sort of been pretending we’re on spring break this week, just the three of us, and we’re going to figure it out after the recess… some time next week. I figure, by that time, you all will have done the heavy lifting and can tell me exactly what to do, right?
I’ve been wanting to ask about your favorite family movies for a while, but the subject just became much more pressing.
Every family movie night, Aron and I would find ourselves dual-scrolling through reviews on Common Sense Media for opinions on whether that movie we loved as kids was actually full of problematic gender roles or racial stereotypes. Our ’80s nostalgia is strong, but man—there are some land mines! On the other hand, sometimes the reviews skew conservative on the age suggestions for reasons less bothersome to us—like a history lesson that might be a little over their head.
The other day I showed off my So-Cal surfer-speak chops to Hudson and he was so impressed. It really made me want to show him Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. But is it actually any good? I can’t remember. And then that made me think of how much I used to love movies like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. (Would they love the dance offs?) I feel like this fits into that genre of movie where it’s fun for kids, but it’s really for me. Back to the Future is on this spectrum, too—if a bit more skewed toward the “for kids” end.
But at Hudson’s age, I went to the theaters with my parents and watched all of these: Top Gun, Aliens, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Platoon, Stand By Me, The Fly, Crocodile Dundee,Pretty in Pink, and The Karate Kid Part 2. I loved Chevy Chase in Spies Like Us and thought Eddie Murphy was the coolest after watching Down & Out in Beverly Hills. So I just can’t tell sometimes!
I recently asked for your favorites on Instagram. Here are the answers (so many recs for Parent Trap). I’ve broken up by the age ranges for which Common Sense Media recommends them, but that’s just for one point of reference. I’d love to hear more in the comments—including for documentaries…
