I let my fourth-grade second son handle the cooking, and I grew as a parent.

Mom! I have a cooking assignment for summer vacation!

As the first term was ending, my second son brought home a booklet and handouts from school and told me as soon as he got back.

Oh, you have a cooking assignment in fourth grade?
Yeah, look.

He opened the booklet to the relevant page and showed it to me.
When I peered at it, it certainly said, "Let's try making mitarashi dango using shiratamako and tofu."

However, there was no space to paste photos or write down thoughts.
It was just a "let's try making it" type of thing, the kind that probably wouldn't be noticed even if you didn't do it.

But my second son had made up his mind, saying, "I'm definitely doing this assignment!"
When I asked him why, he said, "Because I want to cook! And I love mitarashi dango!" He was full of motivation, and his eyes were sparkling.

I almost accidentally let slip, "I wonder if everyone will really do it." I managed to swallow those words and thought about it.

(There probably won't be many more chances to make snacks together. Should I give it a try?)

Then let's make it together.

We made a promise that we would make it once he finished his study homework.

My second son, emboldened by success

At the time we made the promise, the plan was for me to work with him just once and then be done with it.

We actually worked on it together, and it turned out great in both appearance and taste.

It's delicious! I want to make it again.
My second son was satisfied, and the assignment was a huge success.

However, it didn't end there.

The next morning, as soon as he woke up, my second son said he wanted to make mitarashi dango.

(Dango two days in a row... I like it, but that's a bit much.)

Making it is fine, but why don't you do it next week? Let's take a little break.

I suggested this while hiding my true feelings.
However, my second son wouldn't agree.

I'll make it by myself, I want to make it! It went well yesterday, so I'm sure I can do it!

He is strangely full of confidence.
It seems he got a taste for success from yesterday.

“Even if you say you’ll do it alone, we’ve used up all the shiratamako and tofu, right? We have to go buy some.”
“I’ll go! I’ll go do the shopping!”

My second son’s resolve is unshakable.
He looks brimming with motivation.

(Well then, let’s take this opportunity to let him do it all by himself from start to finish.)

“Alright. I might say this and that from behind you, but if you do the shopping, the cooking, and the cleanup all by yourself, you can make it.”

I made up my mind, and my second son decided to take on the challenge of making Mitarashi dango by himself.

Shopping - Cooking - Cleanup

After breakfast, we waited for the supermarket to open, and I sent my second son to go shopping.

“I’m home!”

My second son returned safely with the silken tofu and shiratamako.

It’s time to start the work.

Getting the tools out and putting them away is also all up to my second son.
I only answer if asked, and I don’t lift a finger.

For the firmness of the dough, he adds water based on his own judgment.
I just watch from afar and don’t check it.

He acts like he wants help, but I don’t help at all.

My second son mutters to himself to confirm the steps, and he handles the work involving fire with shaky hands. Perhaps he is being careful in his own way, as he managed to get through it without getting burned.

In the end, it seems he found skewering them to be a hassle, so he just poured the sauce over the dango arranged on a plate, and it was successfully completed.

“It’s tastier than what we made yesterday, so Mom and big brother, try some!”

He is pushing us to try it with all his might, so when I eat it, it is indeed delicious.
The dango are slightly softer than the day before, but it’s not bad.

"It turned out delicious."

When my eldest son and I praised my second son, he puffed out his chest with pride.

Riding the momentum, my second son also cleaned up the cooking utensils and dishes as promised.
He finished cleaning up the little bit of flour he spilled on the floor, and the task was successfully completed.

"I did it all by myself! I'm so happy!"

My second son reported back to me with joy.

"That's right, you did a great job."

When I said that, my second son smiled and started playing with his older brother.

I realized the importance of trusting and delegating.

Seeing my second son in such a good mood, I couldn't help but smile myself.

And then I realized something.

I am happy that my second son can do more things on his own, and he looks so capable.
My second son, whom I always thought of as a little child, has grown enough to be entrusted with tasks.

Perhaps I had been underestimating my second son's potential until now. But he has more motivation than anyone and is a hard worker. Since making mistakes is also part of the experience, I need to let him try various things.

By letting my second son cook, I also learned something new.

To trust and delegate.
It is up to the parent to accelerate their growth.

I, as a parent, was also taught by my second son this time.

Parenting has many failures and some days feel unrewarding, but I'm happy because there are moments like this that feel like a reward.

I'm glad I chose to entrust him with the task.

From now on, I will continue to entrust my second son (and my eldest son, of course) with tasks to help them gain experience.

It was a summer moment where I made that resolution.

#ThingsIGladIChooseToDoMyself