Talking to Carrots

So my parents came up with the rule of "finish what you have to first, then play". In other words, prioritise. 

I teach the same to my 6-year old, and still practice it myself. For example, one of the things I find myself doing a lot is setting stuff on the stove to cook before washing and wiping my hands to go play with the kids. 

But the thing about preparing food is that sometimes it can be rather therapeutic. Unlike bringing up kids, the results are rather immediate. I mean, you take a whole bunch of stuff and put them together et voila, a full delicious meal. 

I'm not saying that bringing up children pales in comparison; I'm saying that it takes longer for the effects to be seen. 

Anyway. 

The kids know that when Mama is in the kitchen, technically everyone should be out. Because I work with dangerous things like knives and work. Things that could possibly hurt them or myself. 

But sometimes they come in to get random things, and sometimes they stand at the doorway asking me to look at them as they do a funny dance, or ask me a question that could probably wait till after, or sometimes they are more aggressive and forward and grab my hand and pull me toward their play area. 

Most times I say "in a minute, baby", and sometimes it's really a minute and other times it's more. Some times I don't even show up, hoping they'd forget. 

My logic is that if I abandon my cooking and go play, they'd be happy but after an hour everyone would be hungry. Plus, they should learn to play independently or with each other, right?

I try to maintain eye contact when they talk to me. Really, I do. I think it's only sincere. Not to mention polite. 

But sometimes it's just not possible. Like when I'm cutting carrots. Or when the oil is sizzling and I have a fish between my fingers, waiting to be cooked. 

I turn over soon as I can to talk to them. But sometimes I'm answering them but my eyes are toward the carrots. Like I'm saying "Ok we can do some painting after", to my carrots. And then when I look up at the kid in question, she's no longer looking at me. She's either gone off or worse, looking dejected. 

Can a 2-year old look dejected? Can a 6-year old give up on her Mama? I'm not sure but I do know that I'm going to work very hard for that not to happen. 

I hope to remind myself more and more that my job is to be with them in their growing years and not to work toward training up to take part in a Masterchef tv show. 

And besides. Talking to kids is way more fun than talking to carrots.