Mama I'm Hungry

"Mama I’m hungry.”

“Is the kitchen closed?”

“Please mama. My stomach is hurting.”

“Honey, you should say, mama there are no eggs.”

“I can’t cook. I’m too little.’

“Learn how to cook honey. Mama won’t always be here.”

“Mama don’t play. You’ll always be here.”

“Go brush your teeth, I’m coming.”

 Once upon a time, people died of old age. Then we became sophisticated, tried to ‘improve’ nature with things and how our bodies work, ate new food and new people. We ended up with new diseases that love young people. That’s why kids should learn to cook, as soon as possible because mama won’t be there all the time.

When though? Difficult question, because of age. Come to think of it, kids learn unconsciously just by being around adults. We even complain that they are getting under our feet. They hang around because they love us, they mimic what we do. They are rookies in this world. They want to know how things work.

“Mama, I’m hungry.”

The right thing to say is: ‘Mama there are no eggs.” Why? Because it means kids know that food is kept in the refrigerator. Eggs are a meal, so giving them a few to crack will be messy but it results in peals of joy. Melt margarine on a pan. Tell them to empty the eggs in the pan. Watch their faces as the eggs cook.

The refrigerator holds food that need heat and food that is ready to go. Kids should be able to wash their hands, put slices of bread on a plate, apply a little margarine, add cheese slices, slice tomatoes and make a sandwich.

Slice tomatoes? Is that safe? Once again, age comes in. You know when it’s safe for your kids or grand children to handle knives. Initiation should start with the kitchen drawer where you keep knives. Big knives, small knives, restaurant knives and serrated knives. They must help you clean the drawer.

 Plates and bowls. You keep them on top shelves because you’re tall. Move them down to floor level so that kids can pull them out without climbing on chairs or footstools.

 The stove raises safety concerns so you must have a whole lesson dedicated to that. Having mama around all the time is the ideal situation, but what if mama doesn’t come back? Thousands of 3-5- and 10 year-olds are living with this reality.

This is another ‘written podcast’ by Nonqaba waka Msimang.