Should Boys Learn How to Cook?
[Vai preparing breakfast for everyone]
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Decades ago they’d answer you with a No, I think.
Because the common value many people believed in at the time was: Cooking and the kitchen were more for the girls.
Well, what’s YOUR view?
Do you think boys should pick up a thing or two about kitchen-related activities?
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[Preparing a special dinner for the family – blogged in August 2010]
Thanks to the years my hubby spent away from his family (during his student days in Perth, Australia), I now have a hubby who can cook! (ie. He needed to cook his own meals, he earned some cash working part-time as a ‘kitchen hand’ in hotels and Italian restaurants, etc).
No, he’s not a GREAT cook who can prepare complicated dishes, but he can prepare simple pasta dishes for all of us (and quite a few other dishes too) *Good enough for me*
And, you know what.
I personally think it’s awesome that he doesn’t mind being in the kitchen every now and then (read: washing the dishes, etc), especially at times when I’m really exhausted, not well, or simply need to attend to the kids, etc.
I appreciate the fact that my ‘load’ can sometimes be shared.
I appreciate the fact that my man can cook!
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Personally I feel it’s my duty as a parent to let my son see and learn that boys and girls CAN be in the kitchen, and that helping out in the kitchen is something that BOTH boys and girls can do.
Well, I don’t expect my kids to be ‘in love’ with cooking or baking (it’s fine if they have the passion, of course!).
I do hope though that they all know how to prepare a few simple dishes, enjoy helping out in the kitchen and being useful ‘contributors’ and members of the family (while learning more about ‘kitchen safety’ since young too).
After all, when it comes to men, women generally love husbands who can cook … no? =)
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PS: Do you involve your son in kitchen-related activities?
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Definately YES! Cooking is a good skill for both boys and girls. Especially when they are studying overseas, living on their own or when I kick the bucket.
My husband enjoys cooking and I hope when my son is a little older will enjoy it too. It’s the mess he leaves behind after every session that drives me up the greasy wall. Maybe you can share a few tips on how to motivate them to do a proper clean up after every meal? Lol!
Yes, I think knowing to cook, just the basics is fine too, is a necessary skill … like you said, when they are no longer with us, etc
As to the mess men tend to leave behind after cooking… haha … I don’t think there are many ‘tips to motivate them’ leh … =) Two thing that came up to mind though:
– If we clean up WITH them afterwards, I guess that motivates him ? (compared to cooking and then cleaning up everything all on his own afterwards =)
– Genuine words of appreciation
have a great weekend, Liza!
Why not? Boys can cook too 🙂 . Gone are the days that men dont enter kitchen and it’s meant only for girls. I have grown up seeing my dad helping my mom in the kitchen washing dishes, sweeping the floor and even preparing simple dishes when mom is unwell and till today he’s the one who goes for grocery shopping 🙂 . After my marriage I quite didn’t expect my hubby to help me at home but he’s very helpful. Everyday at night he will do the dishes., weekends he will do the laundry, when am busy at home he will do the grocery shopping he does all this inspite of his hectic job. however he can’t cook and I don’t prefer to teach him either! Kitchen is my department and I don’t like any one hovering around there.Its great that in today’s situation men are more open minded and understanding. It’s so cute to see you boy handling the pan in ur kitchen. Great post!
Lacy, … thanks for sharing! Indeed it’s so nice when hubby does his bit of help around the home… To me, even the simplest gesture of appreciation is welcomed =)
My husband would complain that I won’t let him cook!
Yeah… well – although he makes a mean beef stew and can make Mee Goreng from a pack taste restaurant worthy, he makes such a mess in the kitchen, and will continuously ask me: where is this ah? Where is that? Until I think I might as well do the cooking myself! 😀
AND when I do the cooking on days when I’m not lazy and we don’t eat at our in-laws’place when we pick baby up from work, (which you can count on one hand in one year) he does the washing up and clearing. Fair!!
Other than that, I share your sentiments… apalagi di Indonesia, bapak2 jaman doeloe mana mau masuk dapur!
Haha… I think I know what you meant =)
I make less mess after I cook, and sometimes I do wonder too , when the man cooks, why are there more splatters and drips here and there hehe …
Still, I prefer that he cooks something up and makes the mess, then I have to do everything, …especially when I’m just dead tired … =)
Ah ha… Thank God send a right man cum best partner to us. My man can help housechores n do little cooking too, juz like yours. Hw blessed we r, right, Leonny?! Well, I’m always a hands on person n believe that thru experiencing doing the thing by yourself can be a tough yet happy occasion too. I do allow my 2 kids entering the kitchen since BB time while I’m cooking, washing dishes. My elder son who was only arnd 1-yr-old, I will let him playing, rolling wif the dry food like potato, onion, carrot etc with my supervision, of course. Abt two, I even let him trying beating egg with my help. He loves egg, so he could help peeling the egg shells of a hard boiled egg. Kid juz enjoyed the whole process! He could fry pan cake at d age of 5, naming different types of bottles of sauce in my fridge too. He juz get so involved n happy to be my assistant while waiting for me to ask him to pass me those ingredient prepared by him. Best reward is that I realised that he learns to eat those food which he normally do not eat. But now, since the food was prepared by him, he is more willing to try n even proudly encourage tge younger sister to give it a try.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon!
I agree … when the kiddos are involved even in the simplest ways when they’re young, they grow becoming less resistant towards the idea of cooking / being in the kitchen …
Yes.. a definite yes! My husband was unable to cook anything when we got married, I trained him a little, now he enjoys cooking as much as I do. It is nice to shop fresh ingredients and experiment some new cooking techniques together..
Hi hi … =) So nice to hear from you!!
Now hubby enjoys cooking too? That’s so sweet … =)
Hope all four of you are well ya!
Definitely dont see anything wrong with a man in the kitchen! Some say they are better chefs cos they know what they want and can do it in record time. Both my hubby and I suck in the kitchen so our best bet is to send my girl to junior chef’s school and hope she’ll be able to cook for us… haha.
Ya interesting isn’t it how the great chefs are somehow men, … and so are the hairstylists, etc …
Cooking school? That’ll be cool =)