Vera has a new frequently-spoken phrase that melts my heart.  When I’m in the kitchen cooking or getting things ready for a meal, she comes running in and excitedly says, “Help Mommy! Help Mommy!” while pushing the stool over to the counter so she can see what I’m doing.

Sometimes I have simple tasks for her to do, like stirring guacamole, putting grated cheese into a bowl, or shaking spices into a pot of chili (the pot last night got a little extra cumin…).  I love that she is so interested in anything I am doing, and I am thankful that she wants to help in the kitchen.

Other times, though, I just don’t have a good job for her to do, but I don’t want to quench her spirit by telling her to leave the kitchen.  I have decided to give her a simple Montessori activity during times like that so that she still can stand up at the counter on her stool and be a part of what is going on in the kitchen.

I set out two bowls for her.  The one on the left contains dried beans (I used kidney beans because they are bigger) and the bowl on the right is empty.  Using a spoon, I show her how to transfer a few beans at a time from the bowl on the left to the bowl on the right.  She is getting pretty good at it already!

Of course I watch her like a hawk since she still tries to put beans in her mouth occasionally.

Thankful for moments like these!

 Full disclosure: There are beans all over my kitchen floor (and somehow my bathroom floor too).