Every so often, a toddler comes across a toy which keeps him good and quiet for so long that you can't help but rush out and buy one immediately. This is not because your child said they wanted one, but because a safely occupied toddler is a priceless gift.On Sunday, my little boy discovered such a toy at our friend's house. Their little girl has an Early Learning Centre Sizzlin' Kitchen. It was the kettle that did it. Not only did it have a little red light - he loves lights - it was very shiny, and made all sorts of entertaining bubbling, boiling and pouring noises. He was quiet for about 2 hours. It was bliss.
On the way home, I put it to The Husband that, as our boy doesn't have any of the larger role-play toys yet, perhaps we should consider getting him one of these kitchens.
'Hmmm', came the reply. 'Do you not think that it's a bit...well...girly?'
'What's that, now...?' I said, in horror.
'A toy kitchen. Don't you think it's a bit of a girly toy?'
'Why would you say that?', I asked, in utter bemusement at this sudden transformation into Alf Garnett. 'Of course it's not girly - it's not even slightly pink. Don't start with this crap - you know very well that most top chefs are men. Would you tell Gordon Ramsay that you think kitchens are for girls?'
'Gordon Ramsay is a whinging old woman.'
'OK, bad example...although I bet you wouldn't say that to his face. Honestly though - you know as well as I do that the ability to cook is a very attractive quality in a man. You love to cook, and you're better at it than I am.'
'I know. Couldn't we get him a toy tool box though?'
'When has he ever seen anyone with a tool box? Are you insane? He's 19 months old and a complete danger to himself just now - I do not want him getting ideas about hammers and saws being lots of fun just yet. Come off it, that kitchen was very well thought through - gender-neutral colours and realistic utensils. It's hardly a pink princess kitchen and tea set, is it? And besides - THERE IS NOT A HOPE IN ALL HELL THAT I AM RAISING A BOY THAT CAN'T, OR WORSE, WON'T COOK!'
The Husband sighed. He knew he was fighting a losing battle. 'OK then, see how cheaply you can find one'
Jolly good. Now get in that kitchen and cook my cheesy nachos, you big sissy...'
17 comments:
psst.....they make miniature lawn mowers along with washers and dryers, too!
ahh you finally posted again....very funny. my son had lil tykes kithceh when he was similar age...he used it for a kitchen awhile, then a store, then a desk..now he is 21, in college, not girlie and he cooks great!
Good for you! My parents militantly declared every kid would learn to sew, cook, change oil & tires, and use a basic set of tools before graduating high school and it paid off- my sis, bro and I are all pretty handy at a variety of stuff. And my brother is a great big 29 year old man now and not a bit girly. :)
This was priceless. Men in particular seem to get all bent out of shape when their sons don't play with gender specific toys. I think a male who can cook is very important. In fact, it was number 1 on my list of prerequisites in a husband and was definitely a deal breaker.
Queen Goob: Excellent! The role play toys are so good these days - although I have to confess, I let him 'help' with the real washing machine and tumble dryer, which he loves so much that I haven't felt the need for toy ones as yet.
Pat: Ah, I'd post more often if I could, but real life has a nasty habit of getting in the way! Glad to hear that the toy kitchen did its job for your son - how old was he when he could finally make his own breakfast and leave you to sleep?
Chicago Sarah: Glad to hear it! There's no chance at all that this boy won't learn all manner of useful skills, and if we have a girl next time, she'll be learning plumbing as well as sewing too!
Gypsy: I'm not sure where this attitude came from - I think his sister is probably handier with a set of plumbing tools than he is, and he's by far the better cook...bizarre! Yet I do know little boys who haven't been allowed such toys on this basis; one husband in particular got very upset about his 2 year old boy liking pink toy prams. I'm pretty sure I know what they're scared of, and it's really very sad on every conceivable level. And you're right - a man who can cook is very sexy!
Moi's first husband was a world class chef. I didn't so much as boil water for years. All I did was merrily make cake. My second husband? Well, hubba, hubba, but a box of rocks in the kitchen. I've spent the past 13 years learning how to cook. It sucks. Buy your boy this toy NOW.
Moi: It's already ordered! Sadly, whilst I will be able to teach him how to follow a recipe to a standard of perfectly edible competence, it will be down to The Husband to show him how to knock together something delicious from the dog ends of the kitchen cupboard that would have had me going 'OK, beans on toast it is then'. As for cake - well I will have to send him to you - we are all hopeless in that department! Are chefs as temperamental at home as they are in the kitchen?
Yes. Hence the term: First Husband.
Over here, we do beans on tortillas. The dish of choice for harried homemakers the universe over, I suspect.
Oh God no, no toolbox. They bang those plastic nails with their plastic hammers day and night, also the drill makes an annoying well, drilling sound. And pretty soon most of them get the idea into their tiny craniums "I know how to use my toy nails and hammer so while mommy's in the shower why don't I have a go with the real nails and hammer in the garage?" So much better off with the toy kitchen.
Moi: That does explain a lot. Gordon Ramsay's wife must be a saint, putting up with that - he does whinge. A lot. I'd never have thought to put beans on tortillas - it sounds nice, and I'll be trying it later in the week!
EmmaK: That sounds like advice from someone who's experienced the carnage! I was thinking of one for his birthday, but will think again. Our own tool box is bad enough, but Grandad has got chainsaws and circular saws. If we were nearer, I'd send him over to sort out your tree stump. Although I couldn't promise he'd be any more sober.
A boy who knows his way around the kitchen will turn into a man who can melt a woman's heart in ten seconds flat...or a man who can melt another man's heart in ten seconds flat.
Either way, it is a very good thing.
I want one of those. I never had one and ok I won't be able to make miso coated salmon in a chili broth but I don't care. I ant one.
"Has he ever seen anyone with a tool box?" :)
Maria: Those are my thoughts exactly. It's a win-win situation. And who knows, he might even cook for us once in a while! Can you have a win-win-win situation?
Ms R: They really are quite something - I'd have loved something like this as a kid. If he ever expresses a desire to cook miso coated salmon in a chilli broth for his teddies, then I'll know it's time to let him graduate to the real thing! Tools can wait - Bob the Builder is very irritating, and I'm hoping to maintain a Bob-free zone for as long as possible!
Having a son and daughter they each played with the other's toys. My son LOVED my daughter's kitchen set, but he also loved his power tool set thing too.
Cut and crunch food was lots of fun to play with.
I have to say...my son is now 22 and is a pretty damn good cook and enjoys it a lot.
His girlfriend isn't complaining I am sure!
Shazza: I'm sure she isn't! One of our British newspapers ran an article the other day reporting some research that found that men who do their share of the housework get more sex than those who don't.
One question occurred to me the other day though - even amogst the most neanderthal of men, all rules about cooking are suspended when it comes to a BARBECUE. Why is that?
Well done for avoiding the gender trap. My teen son has learned to cook in school, and loves it! I taught him to knit a couple of years back, and when he got his badges from Cubs, I made him sew them on himself.
The last thing I want to raise is a boy who clings to his mummy's apron strings... good job, really, 'cos I don't wear an apron!!
Helga: What a great idea - the sewing I mean - mind you, my own needle skills are so awful, I will have to take a crash course from my mother-in-law first! Sadly, I was as hopeless at Home Economics at school as I was at Woodwork - still struggling with my spatula while everyone else had knocked out a bird box and a cassette rack.
The kitchen arrived yesterday, but is hidden in the garage, awaiting the 'free' set of accessories and the all important kettle that failed to show up - thus confirming my opinion of the Early Learning Centre's mail order department as a bunch of useless donkeys. Peace and quiet will have to wait a few more days.
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