Making connections

So it appears I am slowly morphing into one of those "prairie moms" who have always perplexed me so.  You know, the kind who make their own yogurt and sew sassy reusable shopping bags (right after they turn over the compost pile in the backyard)?  No homemade yogurt yet, but I do find myself spending more time in the kitchen than ever in my adult life.  And the truth is I kind of like it.  When we converted to a mostly plant-based diet, I had no idea that my beloved "convenience foods" would be a thing of the past.  We seldom order pizza anymore.  Now, pizza for dinner means making the dough, the sauce and the toppings.  If we want brownies, they come from a bag of flour, not a box.  After a long day at work, all that chopping, mixing, and slow-cooking was a little overwhelming.  But along with producing better-tasting, healthier dinners, something else started to happen.  The kids turned off the TV and made their way into the kitchen too: "Whatcha doin?"  Ethan likes to sit and peer through the tiny window in the bread machine watching it mix the dough.  NiNi is an expert dumper and stirer of ingredients.  Meagan can now make several components of a dinner all by herself....including corn bread from scratch.  And we are making connections while we cook.  Talking, laughing and playing.  Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sitting on the kitchen counter while my mom taught me to make a pie crust or whip mashed potatoes.   Making pie crust is not a great feat, but my point is that "kitchen" arts have been somewhat lost in my generation.  And in many ways, family connections right along with them.  Don't get me wrong, many days dinner preparation still consists of a hurried, stressed out mom and bickering kids.  But we are learning so much about really "being" with the kids, whether that means making a batch of pancakes or telling stories or having a tickle fest.  Too often our definition of quality time was being present in the same room, watching a movie or having them in the car while I run errands.  Physically together, but not emotionally close.  As NiNi's emotional issues surfaced we have seen how much of it stems from her anxiety and her need to be close to us.  This may all seem like a no-brainer to most of you, but let me tell you it has been a huge paradigm shift for me.  It has meant turning off my computer (including emails, blogging and facebook) until the kids are in bed.  Ignoring the "beep" every time a text comes through on my phone (Honestly, what did we do before people were immediately accessible 24 hours a day through an electronic device which has become an extra body part?)  And actually playing with the kids on their terms.  The other day NiNi and I played with dolls for almost an hour.  Once I forgot about all the things I wanted to get done, I think I had more fun than she did.  I am learning to break up the love affair with my 'to do' list...and to value connecting over doing.  I think I know the effect all of this will have on my hobbies and the cleanliness of my house but I'm pretty sure it's worth it (and let's face it my house was not all that clean to begin with)!