I have perennially hated cooking. Those who are my regular readers know that once I also wrote a post titled I hate cooking. However, in this lockdown period the only thing that is keeping me sane is cooking. And, if I go by my social media timeline then many more people have found solace in the kitchen.
In the initial days of the lockdown, I had to take up cooking involuntarily as my cook stopped coming. Initial few days, I managed with basic food. Then one day my son, who always had a penchant for cooking since childhood said he would help me in the kitchen.
I saw a strange satisfaction on his face when he came to help me in the kitchen. He was doing everything so happily that it made me wonder why he was so happy in the kitchen while I was not. He was happy because for him it was a hobby while for me it was a chore. I decided to teach him cooking and a new journey of mother and son began.
One day, I was pleasantly surprised when he said ‘Ma don’t you find the sound of spluttering of the whole spices on hot oil soothing?‘ Honestly, I have always been terrified of that sound, but after he said this, I paused and reconsidered and then the sound had a whole different connotation.
I have now found an amazing mate in the kitchen who encourages me to experiment and do better. Honestly, he has the same traits as his Dad when it comes to cooking but the difference is that his father was too critical and dismissive of my culinary skills. More than encouragement it always felt patronizing. But the beta is different. He is learning but in return teaching me so much.
In last couple of months, I have cooked dishes that I could never imagined of cooking in my humble kitchen. I enjoy how my child jumps with excitement whenever a dish turns out perfect. He will suddenly tell me in the middle of the night “Ma do you think we can add mayonnaise to mushrooms? Can we put chocolate on a roti and turn it into a choco-roti?” His enthusiasm is contagious and I have now started playing along. We are experimenting and keeping lockdown blues away by cooking.
I would like to conclude by saying that parenthood is a learning journey, where a time comes when you become the student and your child becomes your teacher.
Tell me how are you keeping the lockdown blues away?
Trina Looks Back 
Cooking is wonderful in general but I especially love cooking with my son. We’ve cooked together since he was hanging from my shoulder in a sling, too small to walk. And now, at 21 sometimes I am the one helping *him* cook.
As for me, my lockdown refuge has been exercise. For the past seventy days straight I’ve been alternating between cycling or running, every single day. As the weather gets nicer and nicer here it’s even more of a lovely refuge. And of course the health benefits (including all of those great neurochemicals that make one feel so happy) are really appreciated now.
So what have you been cooking lately?
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I have also cooked with him on my lap since he was an infant. He was a clingy baby and used to not leave me. Back then, I had no cook, so I had to carry him on one arm and cook with the other hand. As he turned a toddler he started playing with utensils, dough, vegetables and somehow loved staying in the kitchen. When he started watching TV , he used to be fascinated with kid’s cooking show, especially a show called ‘I can cook’ many a times he used to try those recipes. Now he can manage on his own. I have on the contrary never been fond of cooking.
In India we cannot go cycling or running due to strict lockdown, so no outdoor exercise.
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Oh.. I too hate cooking.. But my sons are loving all the things I am picking up from youtube and experimenting on them.. Definitely, I have now found time to do the cooking. In turn, also getting them to do some of it though they are not as enthu as your son sounds. Keep at it.
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Lata…my son is uber enthusiastic about cooking. He started his YouTube cooking channel. He is shooting and editing all by himself 🤣🤣🤣 for me cooking has always been a bad chore..I hate being in the kitchen for more than one hour..I don’t know how I gave birth to a child who wants to become a chef🙄🙄🙄 he inherited all his dad’s genes..nothing from me😭
YouTube has indeed become life saver to pick up recipes. I have never spent so much time learning recipes my entire life. Phew!!!.
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Ah, perspectives. It’s great that your son is helping you look at it differently. I don’t like to cook either, but it’s fun when there’s company and we’re trying something new. But otherwise it is so time consuming 😛 . I hope to get used to it some day.
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Even I find cooking time consuming. But these days as I have company in the kitchen, the time has become fun-time.
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So true…cooking ignites the creativity of the mind…for most ladies it’s a routine…maybe thankless at times…but then once you get the company and the appreciation like you are getting from your son.. things turn around and it gets satisfying…
Hobbies are pulling people through the pandemic ..
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You are absolutely correct Krish. Most women hate cooking because it is a routine and thankless job. Hobbies are truly helping people cope with the pandemic.
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🙏🙏
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I think this might the sweetest thing I have read on the internet today. Children do have a way of making us unlearn and relearn many things. They have such fresh perspective. Personally I hate cooking too but enjoy it when my boy has special requests.
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Awwwww!!!!! thank you. Yes, I agree that kids can teach and inspire us in their own unique way.
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I so enjoyed reading this. Who knows, you might have the makings of a Master Chef! Glad he’s helping you and finding a new love for himself. I love how he’s thinking of new things to experiment with! Hugs, Balaka.
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Ha ha ha!!! Thanks Corinne, but I do not aspire to be a Master Chef. I know, the moment my cook is back all my enthusiasm regarding cooking would vanish like camphor 😅 the little one however aspires to become a chef one day and I am ready to support him. He has a knack for cooking unlike his mom.
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Was talking about him – not you! 🙂
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You are a lucky mommy, Balaka! And, what a lovely cooking companion you have ❤
I too hate cooking. But my hubby loves it so much; he is a fab cook. SO, this lockdown, he took over the kitchen (something I have shared in my recent post) and I had a terrific time gorging on the food he cooked. 🙂
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My husband is also a good cook but his wfh is keeping him busy and he is not getting enough time to cook. The son ia super enthusiastic about cooking and he loves to experiment with food.
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You found your perfect cooking companion, Balaka. How old is your son? I would like to teach my sons also to cook. It’s an essential skill. I enjoy cooking some days and on some days I hate cooking. One good thing about me is I eat whatever I cooked, doesn’t matter if it is tasty or not. 🙂
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He is eleven years. Cooking is indeed an essential skill. You can start teaching them gradually. For starter ask them to peel green peas..or make a smiley face sandwiche, or let them mess with flour (kids love that). Once they start enjoying they would want to.learn or else they won’t.
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Hey there, I really appreciate this article. I also love to cook a new recipe all time. Thanks for sharing this awesome post.
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The encouragement and the companionship your son is giving you in the kitchen is worth an applause. That picture of English breakfast you shared yesterday was so Pinterestly fabulous. I am sure your son has got his cooking skills from his father and he is also making up for what his father missed on – teaming up with you. I read in the above comments that S is shooting and editing his videos as well. Now that’s the quality of an open mind and an all-rounder personality. Many many cheers to him. We have a Master Chef in the making 🙂
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That English breakfast was made entirely by yours truly…honestly I was myself impressed with what I did, because all my life I have been such a reluctant cook. Maybe cooking is keeping me engaged and also away from a lot of things. S definitely inherited the cooking genes from his Dad but he also inherited my adventurous and experimental genes 😉😉😉 no wonder he is so much more fun partner in the kitchen, he is also not critical and has way more patience than his parents. Cooking needs patience is now my overall understanding. Thank you Anu for so many things. You understand me and my posts in a way that very few do. You somehow always get the essence of it♥️♥️♥️
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I used to love cooking but the lockdown has made me run away from it somehow. Everything is so forced these days na. I am hating the feeling of being suffocated by it all.
Your son sounds amazing Balaka and I think you are blessed to have him so enthusiastic about cooking. Having another family member happy to help and appreciate in this chore is an awesome thing and changes your perception of it.
Happy cooking and do share pics of your culinary creations.
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That’s so sweet of him. I’m not a fan of cooking either. And I’m so happy that he has taken up cooking 😊
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Loved reading about these precious moments you are sharing with your son. And he certainly has more interest in cooking than I ever did. We too had been preparing a lot of traditional dish that we usually won’t prepare at home. It is a nice way to get all the family members together and help out.
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Thank you.
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