A Clean Kitchen

A Clean Kitchen

When I was teaching my daughter to cook, I asked her what the first step in any meal-making should be. 

She guessed, “Sauté garlic in some olive oil?” A logical guess in my case since all my recipes start this way. 

“No,” I said, “First, start with a clean kitchen.”

Both my grandmothers gave me this advice. Before beginning any meal preparation, clear the counters, wash any dirty dishes, and sanitize all surfaces. Only then are you ready to gather ingredients and begin.

This is sage advice in more than one way. Before starting any project, it is best to clean up your work space. Clear your desk, plan your project, gather your tools and materials and begin. 

This advice also applies when considering new ideas. Clear your mind of preconceived notions, old prejudices, outdated information and nonsense. Forget what the pundits say! Collect data, analyze it, and draw your own conclusions. Use good judgement – like your grandmothers taught you (If everyone jumped in the lake, would you too?). Think for yourself. 

In today’s world, there are plenty of people trying to tell us what to think. Some say, “Why should I think? I just let (fill in a favorite pundit) tell me what the truth is.”

Shivers run down my spine! Are these folks really ready to put their trust and future in people who are working for ratings or trying to sell books or merely entertaining the masses? Even if they are experts or authorities or “in the know,” shouldn’t we at least investigate counter-arguments and examine different points of view?  

Today there are many hot-button issues. Do you believe in climate change? How do you feel about the refugee question? What about immigrants? Are some religions better than others? How should we rear our children? Are our schools failing or succeeding? Is the old way the best way? Is my way better than yours? 

Decisions should only be made after clearing your mind, considering all available evidence, sifting it through our own good judgment, and making careful choices. Clear the counters, wash the dirty dishes, sanitize all surfaces, and then begin. 

My grandmothers gave me another sage piece of kitchen advice: The kitchen isn’t clean until you wipe off the table and sweep the floor. Clean the kitchen, cook the meal, enjoy it, clear away, and then finish up by leaving the kitchen clean for the next meal. You’ll sleep better knowing that the job was well done. 

Clear you mind, consider new ideas and savor them. Then clear space for new ideas unsullied by scraps left behind as you prepare for the next idea. You’ll sleep better knowing that you’ve done the job well.

A few more words of wisdom: After clearing the kitchen or your mind, share what you’ve learned with your grandchildren. Grandparents and grandchildren work well together – just like garlic and olive oil.  

Context Clues

 

Context Clues

Studies about language acquisition fascinate me. How do children learn to speak? A linguist did a study using his own toddler son. He recorded a year in his child’s life noting when and where his son used new words. After crunching the data, he came to a conclusion which can be summed up in one word: context.

Context is defined as the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea to be assessed and understood clearly. The linguist found that his son best understood and used words in settings in which they had meaning for him. For example, he used the word “water” first in the bathroom. The researcher determined that his son had heard this word most frequently in the places where it had meaning – the bathroom and the kitchen.

According to this data, children learn words in the circumstances and settings in which they most need them. They learn food words in the kitchen, rest words in the bedroom and play words in the back yard. The best place to learn something is where you can use it or understand it. The best place to learn about nature is outside. The best place to learn about cooking is in the kitchen. The best way to learn a sport is to play it. 

Children are the most efficient of language learners. One of my friends has two sons, ages 2 and 4, who speak English, Mandarin Chinese, and a Taiwanese dialect. They speak Chinese to their mother, English to their father, and the dialect to their grandmother. They switch effortlessly from one to another. The first time I met them they sized me up, chose the correct language, and jumped right into the conversation.  

Children learn words at an amazing rate. Which words do you want your children to learn? What settings and circumstances are you providing for their language acquisition?  Children thrive when introduced to new experiences, new settings, and new ideas. How are you providing these for your children?

As children grow, they add thousands of words to their repertoire. Many of these will be easy to learn: love, happiness, share, friend, forgiveness. Many will be harder: grief, sorrow, anger, loss, pain. Context for all of these words depends on parents, teachers, and friends.

Reading teachers talk a lot about context clues – the hints an author gives to help readers understand difficult or unknown words. “Sunday was an idyllic day for a picnic, sunny, warm, and relaxed.” We understand the new word because of the words surrounding it. Sunday must have been a great day. 

The “hints” children get from parents and teachers help them understand the world around them. Hints such as kindness, generosity, forgiveness, joy, curiosity and security help children learn not only new words but new attitudes: If Mom and Dad think it’s important, then maybe I should too. Dad loves reading; I will too. Mom loves helping others; I will too. My teacher laughs while she learns: I will too. 

The researcher who recorded his son’s word acquisitions provided him with the setting he needed to learn – a loving and happy home. Provide the context which your children need not only to learn new words but to learn the attitudes, ideas, and qualities you want them to have. 

Home or school will be an idyllic setting for every child when those who love them provide the context they need to grow.