Family-Friendly Celebrations

by Karen Kolp


Somewhere in the back of my mind is a vision: my children, dressed perfectly and speaking only when spoken to, are the hit of the party. They sit politely at the table and cheerfully eat all that they're given; they offer to help clean up after the meal. They play quiet games with their cousins and family friends, without whining, crying or becoming overtired no matter what the hour.

Sounds kind of nice, no? I keep this vision in the far recesses of my mind, so that it doesn't intrude with cold hard reality, which dictates, like Murphy's Law, that anything that can go wrong, will – and tears will ensue, possibly not just from the children.

While achieving the perfect-party dream is just that - a dream - as the seasoned mother of 8- and 4-year-old boys, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve to make this whirlwind time of year more kid-friendly.

First, adjust your expectations. This may be the year to set aside the good china in favor of something more durable, thrift or borrow a set of dressy clothes that you know will end up covered in gravy or chocolate, and keep in mind that everything runs late – if the meal was planned for 6, it'll be closer to 7.

Breathe deeply, and remember that your children take their cues from you – if you're relaxed, they feel more comfortable, too.

Include children in the planning and execution of parties that you host; perhaps they can help with the decorations, or the cooking? Kids who help feel more connected with the goings-on, and I notice that if mine help cook, they are far more likely to try the finished product (See my Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread recipe below).

Enlist your favorite nieces or nephews to be on kid-patrol while you help set up or clean up the meal. In my family growing up, this was when the goofiest games, or the most raucous tickle-fests would reign; today, these are still some of my favorite family memories.

For down-time - just after turkey dinner, or just before gifts - bring out some favorite quiet toys or cooperative games. Encourage adults to play too!

Hopefully these suggestions will help pave the way for a smooth, child-friendly celebration. Because kids are kids, there's always going to be something that goes wrong; but with planning, relatives can see our children as the wonderful, inquisitive, fun little people they are.

Next month: Gifts from your kitchen!

Chocolate-Chip Pumpkin Bread

This is my 8-year-old's new favorite thing to bake. It's easy, fun, delicious, and freezes well so that you can pull it out for company, or to bring to a party.

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup applesauce

4 cups sugar

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin)

4 ½ cups flour

1 Tbsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ginger

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp allspice

1 cup chocolate chips

1) Pre-heat oven to 350; grease and flour four 8-inch loaf pans.

2) In a large bowl, combine butter, applesauce, and sugar; mix well. Add the eggs, and then the pumpkin, mixing well after each addition.

3) In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Add to pumpkin mixture in large bowl; stir until dry ingredients are just moistened. Fold in chocolate chips.

4)Distribute evenly among the four pans; bake for 50-55 minutes at 350 degrees, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Ten minutes after the bread comes out of the oven, remove it from the pans to finish cooling on a wire rack. Freeze or enjoy right away!
 

Karen Kolp is the author of  “How to Say Goodbye to Convenience Foods and Still Live a Convenient Life,” a cookbook-in-progress. She lives in the greater Boston area with her husband and their two young boys.