Friday, May 21, 2010

Pie Anyone?


This special guy's mother believes she's raising a man, not a boy-- and she's doing a great job of it.

He was four years old when he "baked" his Mama a pie for her birthday. She prefers cherry pie over cake and the little man knew this fact. He also knew he didn't have any cherries for his masterpiece, so he put "pretend" ones in to make it perfect.

You can only imagine the mess in the kitchen, flour everywhere, but he did it all by himself and the pride shows on his face.

Last night, the now teenage man/child, with his iPod plugged into his ears, made his Mama and me an entire dinner, almost all by himself-- Meatloaf, roasted carrots, baked potatoes and salad with homemade dressing. The kitchen was cleaned after he prepared the food, including sweeping the floor, and his apron was barely dirty. He set the table, head bouncing to the music, and waited patiently for the meal to be ready.

Once dinner was on the table, the iPod disappeared and he asked us about our day. We talked about possible plans for his upcoming summer vacation and who his favorite Food Network chef is. Then he cleared the table and hung out with us for the rest of the evening!

What did we do to deserve this special treatment? Nothing! There were no strings attached.

The meal was the result of his mother letting her son use his imagination starting at a young age, along with hefty doses of encouragement and patience on his Mom's part, as he experimented in the kitchen. He's become quite the chef and enjoys regularly receiving requests for his famous meatloaf, mac and cheese, garlic bread, pastas and brownies.

Someday, this kid is going to be someone's husband and I think he'll be a really good one. He's learning how to take care of himself, he knows how to engage in a conversation with others, he's been known to stop by a flower shop to bring his Mama a bunch of daffodils or peonies, he knows the importance of showing appreciation and gratitude and he's a natural in the kitchen. I'd say that's a great start!

How about you-- Pie or cake?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
Enter to win a $60 CSN Stores Gift Certificate and a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card by leaving a comment on THIS POST and on all NEW POSTS between now and May 30th. Blog about the Giveaway and receive ONE extra entry. COMPETE GIVEAWAY DETAILS HERE.

53 comments:

  1. Pie!

    What a touching story. I wish I had let my kids experiment more and make a mess in the kitchen. I was too concerned with cleanliness and order and I regret that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I LOVE it! This is what all mothers of boys should do....he is the result of decisions, made when times are stressful....good decisions....smiles.

    ReplyDelete
  3. sounds like a pretty cool kid. when i tried to make breakfast for my parents i dropped the milk and it exploded across the kitchen. pie definitely.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great picture of godson when he was a little squirt. Now that he is a medium squirt, he is showing how much he has benefited from his parents and you showing him how much he could do. Your encouragement must have helped him to reach farther and try harder. The dinner and conversation sounds like a marvelous evening. What a wonderful young man he must be.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just loved this post. So full of love and admiration for your entire family - and rightfully so! Sounds like you have all done an amazing job.
    And pie wins hands down:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am a cake girl. But I love a good cheesecake, which I think could technically be a pie. Hmmmm.

    ReplyDelete
  7. give me baked goods or give me death!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Is pie AND cake an acceptable answer...I love both. I'd say this young man for sure has a great start toward a very positive future and is doing great in the right now. You and his mama probably feel as proud as he looks in that picture.

    ReplyDelete
  9. this child is every mama’s dream. She did a beautiful job and is now reaping the rewards. How wonderful for everyone, how wonderful for the universe to have a child who was loved, nurtured and taken care of and who was wanted.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I want it all...pie and cake. What a wonderful young gentleman. I raised my son and let him cut loose in the kitchen. I wanted to raise a man child who could feed himself and even sew on a button if needed. He's a great cook and since his bride could only cook package mac and cheese...he taught her to cook too. :o)

    Ya'll have a fantastically blessed Friday!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. That picture is so cute! Sounds like he is growing up into a fine young man.
    I would take cake over pie anytime!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's been pie in our home for the longest time. I love fruit pies but I think the kids liked the french silk and peanut butter cup ones more.
    Nice post about a nice guy.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Betty blogged about the giveaway so she gets an EXTRA entry! Woo-hoo.

    Thanks,
    jj

    ReplyDelete
  14. Caramel pecan apple pie for me....or if I don't mind a nasty headache...chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

    That young man sounds like a dream. Isn't is wonderful what children can do when we allow them to be children....to explore, to experiment, to give life a try.....

    He is one lucky young man...his mom should be so very proud, and he will make a wonderful hubby one day.

    He is a "keeper". :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Pie OR cake? I have to make a choice? Can't have both?? I guess I'll have to go with cake then. Sounds like a very special relationship with all of you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well done to your friend raising such a fine young man; I wish my mother in law had done the same thing when it comes to cooking...

    ReplyDelete
  17. He's got pride beaming from ear-to-ear in that picture. Love it.

    Sounds like mom knew her stuff, being patient and letting him make his messes. It's paid off.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is so wonderful. I could brag for a long time about the importance of meals and cooking amongst all my children, but I'll resist. I will say though that my 20 year old son is an accomplished chef... for real... at a sushi restaurant. OK, I'll stop.

    Cheers,

    Casey

    PS - German Choc Cake all the way.

    ReplyDelete
  19. That's always been my philosophy about raising my children. I'm raising a man and a woman. Or rather I was.. now they're pretty grown up.

    That young man sounds amazing and his mom deserves kudos.


    And not only is a 'great start', it gives me hope for the future.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. That is wonderful that he loves to cook. you both were lucky. I did love the pie at four though, that is priceless. take care.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lemon meringue pie and carrot cake (with real cream cheese frosting, natch) are equally beloved by my chins, thighs and heart and soul. :-)

    Pearl sent me on over here, and I always do what Pearl says 'cause she's cool like that and so's her blog.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dear Joanna,
    Sounds like you surround your self with talented and cool guys! Lucky for you and YES, lucky for their friends and family to be!!
    Thanks for dropping by Rochambeau!!

    xox
    Constance

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow! he is going to be some catch!! doe she have an interest in going to school for culinary? Johnson and Wales (too far perhaps) or another school in CA maybe? He sounds like he has the makings of a great chef!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Cherry pie!
    What a great young man! He will indeed make someone a terrific spouse.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great story! Congrats to all y'all, sugar! xooxo

    (btw, Pearl sent me over and I am so glad she did!)

    ReplyDelete
  26. How about pie AND cake?

    Well that nice young man sounds like a winner to me. When can I come and get him?

    ReplyDelete
  27. You had me at meatloaf...

    And my daughter is 11..will he wait for her :)

    Peace ~ Rene

    ReplyDelete
  28. Always pie first, but I love this story. I'm raising men, too, and agree fully with your approach!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wonderful post, wonderful giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm a little slice of each. Hopefully, Juan Carlos isn't his favorite food network chef. Hope it's not true he was trying to buy a "hit" on his wife.

    ReplyDelete
  31. He sounds like a wonderful young man. The kind of young man I'd like my son to be when he grows up.

    Luckily my son has his dad to curve my urges of perfection. My son loves to draw, so our whole house is covered in his drawings. He is currently working on a calendar. He's into March now. For an eight year old to stick to something like that - it's taken him over a month now - is pretty good. I'd say his chances are excellent for growing into a productive adult.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi!

    I don't want to enter.

    I just want to say that this was a really sweet post, and I could see love in the words. Thank you for sharing. x

    ReplyDelete
  33. The dinner sounded delicious-meatloaf is a big favorite with me. Pie: chocolate pudding; cake: chocolate with coconut marshmallow frosting!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Cake - chocolate cake!

    Love the joy and pride shining through that little guy's face in the photo.

    It's so important to let kids mess around in the kitchen! And fun too... (Well, apart from the tidying up, that is.)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Absolutely A-dorable little man there. What a story.

    Charmed.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wow. What a great guy. The first time I made something for my Parents was Cereal. I microwaved it and it turned into something black. The best part was they managed to eat it! I would take Cake.

    Here from Technobabe's blog. Have a good day!:)

    ReplyDelete
  37. I can't really choose - depends on my mood. I like both pies and cakes. In the summer, I make a wonderful fruit pie - peaches, bluberries, raspberries and blackberries..I could go for that right now!

    Your grandson sounds terrific. My three boys were like that, as well. They had to be pretty independent since I was a single mom, on call around the clock and, often, I would be at the hospital 24 hours straight. Of course, I had a lovely woman from El Salvador living in who was my salvation but the boys were terrific.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I married a man who cooks. He is usually the one who cooks when we're asked to "bring something." Sadly, I am the one who is complimented on the food. In spite of many offerings, many people refuse to believe he cooks.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'm thinking that guy will make a super daddy someday. How wonderful that he's developing such useful talents!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wow! Good to know there are moms out there raising their sons to be be husbands some day!

    PS - Pearl sent me!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Cake for me but I won't turn either one down. :)

    I try to get my kids in the kitchen with me. Sometimes they want to but most times they don't.

    ReplyDelete
  42. German Chocolate cake with coconut pecan frosting or pecan pie!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hmmm Lemon cheesecake...yummmmmmy!
    What an amazing boy/man..she certainly did something right!! Whoot.
    Sending a Baileys and coffee your way hon! Hugs, Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  44. Sounds like he's going to make someone an excellent husband!!..someday!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Such a nice story, nicer to see him grown up and just as thoughtful

    ReplyDelete
  46. That photo is PRICELESS, and I love the post. What a great kid!

    ReplyDelete
  47. The parents of this kid should teach a course on parenting boys.

    ReplyDelete
  48. If I wasn't married- and a million years old- I would snatch him up in a second. What a blessing!

    ReplyDelete
  49. What a sweetheart. He reminds me of my older son who always loved to cook as a child and still does. That boy's mom is a lucky woman!

    Do I really have to choose between pie and cake? How about chocolate cherry pie cake?

    ReplyDelete
  50. His mother is some woman for giving her son the freedom ot grow and develop in that way. And yes there will be some lucky girl out there who will be very grateful. It will be interesting to see where he is headed in the coming years.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Pie, the cherry variety, thank you!

    You are right on the money, regarding this young man and his future!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, I really appreciate it.