Parenting Tips that Help Build Confident Kids and Transform Your Family
From Baked Beans to Bravery: Why Letting Your Kids Help in the Kitchen is the Parenting Tip That May Save Your Sanity
If you're a parent, you’ve probably experienced The Kitchen Dilemma: Do you shoo the kids out so dinner can be made in (relative) peace, or let their little hands “help” and risk dinner taking twice as long, using every pan you own, and for some reason, carrots being found in the silverware drawer? I see you. And I’ll admit it, I’ve been there, debating if cereal counts as a food group and dreading dinnertime battles over peas. I didn’t realize it might actually be the hot parenting tip that can actually help build confident kids and help you transform your family.
But here’s the thing: those sticky, imperfect, delightfully chaotic moments in the kitchen? They’re not just feeding your kids’ bellies, they’re feeding their souls. And no, I’m not just trying to make you feel better about the flour spill that’s now a permanent feature of your tile grout.
I recently listened to the The Real Family Eats episode “Build Confident Kids Through Family Cooking and Creative Recipes.” (Do yourself a favor and go stream it after this - it’s an instant dose of affirmation and full of real-talk insight.) Lace, the guest, is a parent, entrepreneur, worldschooler, and founder of Tech and Taste. Her journey with her kids began with a single, radical decision: to step off the “normal” education path when her oldest was only six and start homeschooling. That leap led her family on an international adventure like living in Colombia, traversing Mexico, and taking every moment as a learning opportunity.
But what really struck a chord was how Lace described the kitchen as a training ground for real-life resilience and connection. Her “baked beans moment” (witnessing her college roommate have a meltdown over not knowing how to prepare baked beans) lit a fire under her to make sure her kids weren’t just “fed,” but capable - practically, emotionally, creatively. Seventeen years later, her daughter is being invited into Jamie Oliver’s kitchen, and all her kids can handle not only culinary curveballs but the unscripted messiness of life.
Here’s the Truth: It Was Never Just About the Burger It Was about Parent Connection
Sure, you want your child to eat more than a rotation of crackers, fruit snacks, and cheese sticks. You want less resistance, fewer mealtime stand-offs, and maybe even a little help now and then. But underneath it all, what we really want is connection, competence, and confidence for our kids and ourselves.
Lace’s story is a reminder: letting our kids into our process (whether that’s making air fryer burgers, planning meals, or handling the occasional household crisis) is a powerful way to teach life skills that last. The kitchen becomes a playground for curiosity, problem-solving, teamwork, and even learning boundaries (“No, we are NOT having six separate meals tonight!”). Plus, it’s a ready-made space for those conversations we’re all craving as our kids get older and more independent.
Why Does This Matter for You and Your Relationship?
Let’s get real: parenting is hard work, especially if you’re used to doing it all (or feeling like you should be able to do it all). Add in the mental load of running a household, supporting a partner, and raising decent humans, and you’ve got a recipe for burnout. By turning daily routines like cooking into opportunities for connection, collaboration, and resiliency training, you’re reinvesting in your family’s emotional wellness - not just survival.
But what if you’re feeling stuck? What if the idea of letting your kids or partner into your routine fills you with anxiety more than excitement? What if every attempt to try something new ends with everyone frustrated and someone hiding in the bathroom (probably you)?
This Is Where Embrace Renewal Therapy Steps In
At Embrace Renewal Therapy, I specialize in supporting parents and couples in not only surviving but thriving through life’s messiest, most meaningful moments. My sweet spot? Parent Workshops that go beyond the surface, where I help you…
Reimagine routines like cooking or laundry as powerful moments for life lessons (without the pressure to be picture-perfect)
Shift the atmosphere from “battlefield” to “collaborative adventure,” whether with picky eaters, strong-willed toddlers, or teens who’d rather text than talk
Strengthen co-parenting, so you and your partner can navigate stressful moments as a team, not rivals
Learn strategies to foster real resilience and resourcefulness in your children no matter where you’re starting
My Parenting Workshops are hands-on, joyful, and refreshingly honest. We talk about the tough stuff like how to set healthy boundaries (even when the whining is at DEFCON levels!), how to empower kids to take ownership, and how to inject more fun back into family life.
Resilience, One Meal at a Time
You don’t need to worldschool your kids or jet around Central America to instill resilience, independence, and adaptability. But if you want to, I say, “Go for it!” - what you need are the tools, the encouragement, and the space to rediscover play, connection, and shared purpose within your four walls.
That’s what I do at Embrace Renewal Therapy, and why my Parenting Workshops are the single best thing you can sign up for, especially after listening to Lace’s story. You’ll leave with practical tools, a supportive community, and the validation that “messy” is just another word for meaningful.
Ready to Trade Perfection for Connection?
If your family routines could use a dose of resilience, creativity, and connection (and a little less stress over getting it “just right”), I invite you to join our next Parenting Workshop. It’s designed for real parents (yes, the ones who sometimes feel overwhelmed or uninspired) and it arms you with realistic practices to transform your family from “getting by” to “growing together.”
Plus, you’ll pick up more than just cooking tips. You’ll learn the why behind the routine, and how every meal, every chore, every challenge, and every triumph can be an opportunity for real connection and lasting change.
Give yourself permission to step off the hamster wheel, invest intentionally in your wellness (and your family’s), and let go of the guilt about not having it all together.
Sign up for a Parenting Workshop at Embrace Renewal Therapy today. Your future self and your future resilient, confident kids, will thank you.
And if you need a little nudge of inspiration, head over and listen to the “Build Confident Kids Through Family Cooking and Creative Recipes” episode from The Real Family Eats. Sometimes, all it takes is a story (and a homemade burger) to help you remember: you really are doing just fine.
Let’s make family life more flavorful one mess, one meal, one meaningful moment at a time.
