While driving to the doctor’s office the other day with my son in tow, we discussed our upcoming plans for the weekend. I told him I wanted to make Christmas cookies. And I foolishly asked him if he wanted to help or if I should wait until he left for his visitation with his father. Seemingly insulted, he replied, “I want to help make the cookies! I’m a great baker.” He was right. He is.

As a parent, I sometimes take for granted the two extra sets of hands that live in my house. When they were babies, it was difficult to accomplish tasks when they were awake and wanted to “help.” But as older children, they really do have such a great capacity and a passionate desire to help. When it comes to baking and cooking, my son is quite advanced for an almost-four-year-old. He knows how to crack an egg. He knows how to use a sharp knife. He’s great at measuring and adding ingredients. And he’s amazing at mixing them all together.

He’s even good at creating appropriate flavor profiles.

I’ll never forget one particular morning when we were making waffles together. I suggested adding apples to the batter and he looked at me wide-eyed and said, “How about we crush and add Oreos instead?” And so, we did. I likely don’t need to tell you how delicious they were.

Together

While it’s anxiously exciting to purchase and prepare gifts for everyone at this time of year, it’s easy to look past the more important aspects of the season. Being together and enjoying each other’s company is what Christmas is all about. And this year, we’re going to do it while preparing our Christmas cookies.

If you’re a lucky recipient of our five-different-kinds of love-filled cookies, I hope you enjoy every bite. And if you’re not, I hope you enjoy imagining my children and me making a mess in the kitchen this Saturday.

There will likely be some flour in our hair, eggshells to fish out of the batter, and too much food coloring added to the tri-color cookies. But there will also be cheerful laughter, Christmas carols, and pure unadulterated joy radiating from our home.