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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder if anyone really enjoys baking with their children?

88 replies

Twiceover · 30/05/2013 11:23

I've made fairy cakes with DTs (nearly 4) this morning. In my head it's going to be a lovely activity where we chat whilst gaily measuring out ingredients and mixing them together. In reality, they argue over who's going to crack the eggs first, who's going to put which ingredients in the bowl, who's going to put which sprinkles on. I have to stop them eating all the mixture before I can get it in the cake tray. While the cakes are cooking they ask if they're ready yet approx every 30 seconds. Aaargh! They do enjoy it though and they're always very proud of the finished, sprinkle-crammed product.

OP posts:
Katnisscupcake · 30/05/2013 12:18

No, don't like it so I don't do it. I bake a lot of cupcakes and cakes, normally for other people so I don't let her help. But then, I don't like most childrens activities actually... Don't like painting, play-doh, crafts, none of it. Have all the stuff and happy to let DD (nearly 4) get on with it and make loads of mess, just don't like doing it with her.

DH on the other hand is the fun one...

I could never have been a SAHM, wouldn't have been fun for DD or me (even though I miss her loads when I'm working). She has much more fun at pre-school (and previously with her CM) than she would have with me.

So on the 3 days a week that I do get to spend with her, I always take her out either to the park, to the farm or on play-dates. I enjoy all that much better - I'm a social butterfly - LOL!

Katnisscupcake · 30/05/2013 12:20

Oh, must add though, through DH's patience teaching her to bake (and her wanting to bake like Mummy), she can break eggs without getting ANY shell in the bowl. Once when I was trying to do loads of cakes, DH handed her the 12 eggs I needed and she broke all of them without getting any shell in - and that was when she'd just turned 3! Shock

Maybe she will take after me afterall!

OldBeanbagz · 30/05/2013 12:23

It gets better when they're older.

My DCs have realised that if they ask if they can lick the bowl a hundred times then i'm going to keep it all for myself not going to let them.

I could pretty much leave them to it now but i still like baking with them. I also have them helping out with out evening meals. DH is now redundant in the kitchen - apart from when the kids have gone to bed Wink

fortifiedwithtea · 30/05/2013 12:23

DD1 invited 2 teen friends over yesterday knowing I would be out with DD2 to bake cakes.

But wanted the layers to be multi-coloured and they couldn't find a recipe. Cue a phone call to me and some very loud parenting in a shop because I got frustrated DD couldn't follow my instructions Blush.

Got home to nice smells. Result tasted better than it looked. I cleared up the mess but hay it was ok, the house was still standing Grin.

Buzzardbird · 30/05/2013 12:27

I have one ingredient to add to this...icing sugar! The dust of the devil's own back of tv.
There is nowhere left untouched after we have made a glazed topping (sad)

Amazinggg · 30/05/2013 12:35

I do, sort of - DS is 18mo and if he's having a grouchy day, teething, tired or whatever makes toddlers grouchy - the only thing that will make him calm and happy is baking Confused so if there is lots of cakes and biscuits in the house, it's been a tough week...

But he is currently happy having his own mixing bowl which I put tiny amounts of each thing in (not egg or baking powder obv) and he eats the butter, sugar, flour, flavourings or whatever. And gets to lick the spoon/bowl while I wash up. He normally won't be patient while I wash up so this is a treat by my standards.

God I need a job Sad

BeerTricksPotter · 30/05/2013 12:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Artichook · 30/05/2013 12:42

I have to say I love baking and doing craft activities with my 6 year old and 4 year old and I always have. What I hate is imaginary play, I just cannot pretend to be a fairy or a princess or even a teacher. I love baking and craft because there is a structure and a point to both activities. I know why we are doing what we are doing, I can even see concrete results, such experiences can be rare with kids!

JenaiMorris · 30/05/2013 12:45

Small children are rubbish at cooking. They just don't get it.

It's better when they're older and you can leave them to it. I still have to go to another room now and ds is 12.

BikeRunSki · 30/05/2013 12:50

I like baking with one child, but not both at the same time.

SirChenjin · 30/05/2013 12:53

I enjoy it if a)only one of the them is baking with me, and 2)we have plenty of time and it's not something that I'm trying to get into the oven quickly

FreudiansSlipper · 30/05/2013 12:56

That's why I stick to making flapjacks little mess and quick

wickeddevil · 30/05/2013 12:57

Oh Franca
I said that to my HV when she asked if I ever did painting with DS. She wasn't impressed. (blush)
My preferred method is to put all the ingredients in the mixer and let my DCs turn it on. I find this less stressful than mixing with a spoon.
having said that I have promised to make a swiss roll with DD this afternoon. Wish me luck.

wickeddevil · 30/05/2013 12:59

Wrong Brackets!! now doubly Blush Blush

ZenGardener · 30/05/2013 12:59

I love it and I have three kids aged under 5. I just accept the mess and bowl licking and general chaos. Simple recipes are best. It doesn't matter if the ingredients aren't exact.

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 30/05/2013 13:02

I don't mind doing with with DS1, now he is 6. With DS2 (not at the same time, I hasten to add), I have a compromise whereby he has a large mixing bowl and he can choose any random ingredients to put in and mix. It is messy and wasteful, but he enjoys it and I can get on with making something else. I'm not too bothered about the mess he makes as I'm not a particularly tidy baker myself. But I do seem to always start baking after mopping the kitchen floor, doh!

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 30/05/2013 13:02

DS2 is 2.5 btw

Francagoestohollywood · 30/05/2013 13:03

Wicked, how dare you not painting with your dc Wink! (never been asked if I painted with the dc by my hv, btw and I am acutally a bit shocked that she asked. And your answer was spot on!)

FiveSugarsPlease · 30/05/2013 13:05

I had the fairytale, perfect mother vision of baking with my daughter, too.

That was before i'd ever actually baked with my daughter.

When she was aged between 2-3, she cried at the noise of the mixer. She cried if she got flour/egg on her. She cried if i tried to help in any way.

Aged 3-4, she tried to put her fingers in the mixer, she tipped egg and flour on herself, and kept trying to sit in the cooker.

Aged 4-5, she kept adding other ingredients when i wasn't looking for a second (soap powder muffins, anyone?), she would insist on washing her hands every minute, she would attempt to eat all the mixture.

Aged 5 (now), she won't let me help at all, she seems to know all the ingredients and instructions by herself and will tell me off for insisting the egg shells don't belong in the mixture, she'll splatter the mixture EVERYWHERE when trying to put it in the cases, she tries to 'dry the cats' hair' with the electric whisk.

Now, i bake in secret then call her over to decorate things when they've cooled.

janey68 · 30/05/2013 13:06

Have only skimmed the thread, but just to say: I rarely baked with mine. Instead I used to get them involved with chopping and stirring for our evening meal. Far more of a 'real life ' skill, it's something which needs doing every day and it took the novelty factor away which causes a lot of the bickering when you do baking as a 'treat.' They both really enjoy cooking now and are confident cooks. So I wouldn't get too hung up on the fairy cake thing.

Cleanandclothed · 30/05/2013 13:07

I like it. I don't generally do anything for the first time with DS1, so I am not too stressed trying to follow a recipe. I have always had a very strict 'no eating anything with raw egg in' policy so he doesn't nag too much about eating. I can see more than one child would be quite stressful though! DS is 4.5 and can grate carrots, crack eggs, stir, spoon in to cases, etc. He also has his own dust pan and brush so if he makes too much of a mess he knows he has to clear it up (doesn't stop him much though, and the clearing up isn't perfect Grin)

TrucksAndDinosaurs · 30/05/2013 13:11

I like the idea but actually I like baking FOR my 2.5 yr old rather than letting him loose.

I like watching him select a cookie and then giving DH the rest for work. He has become quite popular at work.

forevergreek · 30/05/2013 13:18

I like it. But even from tiny they would be in a sling watching us, so I suppose its just progressed to chair.
They also like 'helping' make meals but that usually involves leaving them to cover their own toast with everything rather than for others!

They do help with something at least everyday through so they have either learnt patience or are bored!

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 30/05/2013 13:23

i quite like it
however, you need to be quite clear whether you are doing Activity Baking, or Eating Baking.

The DC aren't involved in the latter, where I weigh things precisely, fold gently, separate eggs carefully, and make sure the cake mix lands in the tin without leaving straggly bits that will burn.

Activity Baking means sloshing the ingredients about with gay abandon, chucking the resulting mess in the oven, and then covering it in as much lurid icing and sprinkles as we can find. the DCs are happy to eat the results; me - not so much.

blondiep14 · 30/05/2013 13:28

This has really made me laugh!

Had a very shouty morning so dusted off the packet of Moshi Monster cake mix to do with DS1 and DS2 when DD had stopped screeching every time I walked more than two steps away from her.

The cake is green and is for cake lollipops. You basically crumble it and mix with buttercream to make balls. Then cover said balls in green icing.

Totally and utterly vile. Thought they would love it at least, but no. Not really.

Am now even more stressed and shouty.

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