my three year old fried an egg for the first time today

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Seth has been on the move, living life in a very active way, for years now.  He’s three. Ever since he could get from place to place on his own (at about 5months), I’ve been more distracted and frazzled than ever before.  He is so busy.

He never sleeps past 6:30.

Thank goodness he still naps, but occasionally he doesn’t; those are trying days.

Now that the children go to school, he is convinced he should be going, too.  He dresses himself, gets his shoes on and asks for his lunch and backpack.

Now that E and Davy are playing baseball, he is just as convinced he needs to go to practice, too.  He wears Davy’s cleats and carries a glove everywhere.  My cheek is still sore from getting hit by a baseball that he threw as we played “catch”.

Honestly, half the time I do not know what to do with him.  If I try to get him to color or play with toys, for example, it becomes a battle of wills. 

Thankfully, he loves to listen to books (we read A LOT), and every now and then he can make it through a half hour video. 

I’m sitting here, blogging, only because he’s napping. 

I’m sitting here, tired, because I have a Sethie in my life.

I’m sitting here, thankful to tears, because I have a Sethie in my life.

 

Like every other mama, my mornings are very busy.  Often, I do not get anything to eat until after the children are all at school.  By that time, I have been awake for two hours and am ravenous.  This morning was no exception.  Not only that, but this morning Jacob (my 15 year old) also forgot his lunch.  I knew that before I could take it to him I had to eat something……..and only two perfectly fried eggs would do.  In no time at all, I had them cooked.  As I waited for my English muffin to pop up out of the toaster, along came Seth……wanting an egg, too. 

I had no strength for it, I was at the end of my endurance, I was shaking and trembling (yes, I am being dramatic), so I said to Seth, “While mama eats her eggies, I will help you fry your own eggie.”

My little cast iron pan was still hot, I turned the burner back on, and he put a pat of butter in it.

At just the right time, he cracked an egg…….

…and opened it up.

He added a little salt, a little pepper.

As it fried, I took a spatula and demontrated how he had to flip it. 

Then, I handed him the flipper and held my breath.  This would be the exciting part.

Would it land in the pan, or out of the pan? 

(BTW, He’s using his left hand!)

I was ecstatic!  He flipped it perfectly, on the very first try!

Just look at this proud, happy face and the excited tension in his little fist.  (What you can’t hear:  all my loud “well-dones and good jobs” to my littlest, and most very dear, chef.)

 

He requested his favorite plate.

As he enjoyed his egg that he made all by himself, I heard a little voice from the highchair.  She had finished her bowl of raisin bran, and wanted an egg, too. I put the last bite of my own breakfast in my mouth, and thought to myself how blessed I was to be a mama.  Yes, Seth is a busy boy, but what I learned once again this morning, if I keep him by my side, and let him do what I am doing, he is most happy.  Now that he can fry an egg, he has one more useful skill to use, in place of mischief.  One hopes.

 

Here is a nice way to make your toddler an egg: Gently fry one egg in butter.  Only add a touch of salt (pepper is too hot).  As it cooks, use your fingers to break a piece of soft bread into small pieces in a bowl.  Remove the egg from the pan after flipping it and letting it cook just until the white is solid.  Place it on top of the bread, cut it up, and serve it with a spoon.  My little Sarah loves eating her egg this way.  I got the idea from the lovely Apples for Jam cookbook.

(Shallow bowl; made by Homer Laughlin China, same factory that makes fiestaware.  This is the beautiful “Imperial Blue Dresden” pattern.)

 

 

0 thoughts on “my three year old fried an egg for the first time today”

  4. I heard once kids that are so active at this age tend to be the studious, exceptionally smart type of people growing up. And this was delightfully humorous, which I thank you for. Way to go, Seth!

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  5. My husband’s name is Seth…and he is left-handed ;).My problem is all the mess that they make…uh…it shouldn’t worry me so, but I struggle with that a lot. You little Seth looks so pleased!! I think we way underestimate their skills. Great job in letting him do it.(love the plate for your daughter’s egg)

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  6. Hurray for Seth!!! That’s quite an accomplishment! And I will certainly keep that toddler egg breakfast idea in mind this week, as I fumble around pre-coffee looking for breakfast ideas.

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  7. That is the way my Mom use to fix my fried eggs. I’m hungry for eggs now, too. You can just see the unbridled joy on Seth’s face. It will probably be a good memory that he cherishes forever. You’re such a good Mom. 🙂

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  13. How sweet! He cooked his own egg! He was probably so proud.Sammy has always been my busy,busy boy. Always inquisitive,excited about life. He is lots of fun.I like that dish. It’s so pretty. I love the blue and the design.Happy Tuesday to you. =)

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  14. and after this post came the picture on facebook of him sampling some wares from the downstairs freezer..oh my. sounds like he definately keeps you on your toes. i love the satisfaction in his face from being able to make his own eggies. how fabulous. i love that idea of serving eggs to little kids. when i was young..probably by 4 my mom would serve them sunny side up and give us little spears of bread with butter to dip in the yolk and then we would put the rest on other peices of bread. it was fun..and sometimes i still eat it this way 😉

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  15. The picture of him with his fist all tensed up is adorable.  I could just feel his excitement!  My 11 yr. old daughter was reading the blog over my shoulder and thought your whole family was watching him with pride (when she saw your family pic on the frig!).  We all had a good laugh!  I like the idea of putting the egg over broken up bread, I’ll have to try that one with my very picky 2 yr. old.  God bless you!

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  16. I had a day like that with my (then) seven year old. She had been cooking little things under supervision for quite some time… but this time I was busy with some school work and she was nagging at me about dinner. I got kinda frustrated with her (since it was just BARELY getting to be dinner time) and kinda huffed at her, “If you’re so hungry right this minute, you go cook dinner.” And she did. She made tacos. Used cans of chicken (the kind for chicken salad) and put it in the pan, heating it up and seasoning it… she microwaved the refried beans, warmed the tortillas, put out the other stuff everyone likes in their tacos… without even a little help from me. Now, she insists on being the one to cook tacos every time we have them… She’s been at it for three years. 🙂

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  17. A very wise young man and you are a wise Mother.  Loved the pictures and your post brought back memories.  Being tired seems to be a constant part in a parents life. Some times it happens even when they are no longer home.  *smile…

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  19.  if I keep him by my side, and let him do what I am doing, he is most happy. … he has one more useful skill to use, in place of mischief. One hopes.

    well said. in my own experience, i completely agree!!
    i admire u 4 raising such a beautiful family.
    typing 1 handed w baby, just now:)

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