Why You Should Parent Like A Baker

If you've ever baked before, you know that baking requires a certain degree of forethought, preparation, and careful reading and following of directions. It also usually requires practice, especially if you're baking something special.

My number one piece of parenting advice, is to treat parenting like baking. In essence, start early, be prepared, and practice.

Here's what it looks like if you bake like I do (I'm a notoriously bad baker - one time when making cookie dough balls, I totally missed step 1 - add flour):

You realize you have to take a cake to a party tomorrow and scramble to get baking. You read the directions as you go, wince when you have to substitute an ingredient you didn't have and hope it tastes OK (maybe just add extra sugar??), and you definitely don't practice. Decorations are highly questionable.

In parenting terms, my baking is like waiting for challenges with your kids to arise before you do anything about them. Suddenly you're in the middle of a full blown tantrum in a public space and you have no.actual.clue. what to do. Maybe you recall something you've seen on Insta so you try that, it's not working and panic ensues. Your parenting cake, as it were, is on fire and you feel stressed and embarrassed.

Here is what baking and parenting optimally look like:

You plan your recipe in advance and gather all the ingredients --

You spend time before parenting challenges arise informing yourself about what to expect, as well as strategies and skills to handle them.

You follow the directions, (which you've pre read!), and you practice your recipe --

You practice parenting techniques and feel confident and prepared to meet challenges you encounter.

And by the way, one important component of feeling prepared is knowing where to seek help when you need it.

Parenting is a lot more manageable and enjoyable when you feel confident and prepared. I'm here to help parents do just that. If you handle the baking, I'll handle the parenting.