Saturday Morning Dispatch No.8
Kid shows that aren't the worst, a paper towel fashion moment, and a recipe for Parisian-inspired hot chocolate.
The last week reminded me of why we’re no longer homeschooling.
I adore my children. I want to learn alongside them and model wonder and curiosity about the world. I want to offer them a rich and meaningful education that isn’t shaped by the demands of standardized testing.
But GOOD GRIEF. Five uninterrupted days together just about undid me. (Most of you are rolling your eyes like, no sh*t Kathryn.)
So, after being stuck at home due to 14-inches of snow, sub-zero temperatures, teacher inservice, and norovirus, they all finally went back to school and everyone is happier and likes each other again.
I judge myself so you don’t have to.
It’s safe to say those five days took us back to pandemic lockdown survival mode, which wasn’t exactly the apex of my parenting abilities, and which relied heavily on TV and tablets. Maybe none of us should be judging how other people parent, but the amount of screen time I’m talking about merits judgment, I promise.
Screens are mainly to keep the kids from bothering the grown-ups, whether we’re on an important phone call or hiding in the bathroom listening to murder podcasts, right? But I also use the TV when my girls need some mommy time and I don’t have the bandwidth to help build a marble run or set up an art project. As far as I’m concerned, snuggling up together with a show that isn’t Cocomelon or Blippi (or any of the twelve thousand other garbage disposal shows my kids want to watch) absolutely counts as quality time.
Here is my totally subjective list of kids’ shows that I enjoy. Your mileage may vary. In addition to the listed platforms, you can also find many of them for purchase from Apple TV or Amazon.
10 TV SHOWS I LIKE WATCHING WITH MY CHILDREN, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:
Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom. I want a magic picnic basket and Nanny Plum is hilarious. Same voices as Peppa Pig, minus the fat-shaming. (Netflix)
Bluey. Is it possible to oversell this show? I don’t think so. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it makes me want to be a better parent and a better person. This is my desert island show, with or without kids. (Disney+)
Elinor Wonders Why. Low-key nature show with charming animation, all about wonder, curiosity, exploration, and discovery. That’s my jam! We quote Elinor often: “That’s so interesting!” (PBS Kids)
Let’s Go Luna. A traveling circus takes a group of “kids” (it’s a butterfly, a frog, and a wombat) around the world and they discover cool things about various places and cultures. There’s something reminiscent of 1990’s Nickelodeon shows with this one - I think it’s the animation style and occasionally manic energy. Do with that what you will. (PBS Kids)
Puffin Rock. Puffins having little adventures on their tiny island, all in an Irish accent. Lovely. (Netflix)
Sarah & Duck. Super quirky, and I have so many questions about the version of reality presented here, but I think the weirdness is part of the appeal. We like it. (Pluto TV)
Sesame Street. If you’re picturing whatever ersatz episodes HBO spits out, stop. I’m talking about Classic Sesame Street. Episodes from the 1970s and 80s that give me a hit of nostalgia and give my kids a glimpse of Jim Henson’s genius and the world before smartphones and helicopter parents. (YouTube HERE and HERE)
Waffles and Mochi. I live in a place with very few exciting food options, but I’m a foodie in my heart. This show lets me share my epicurean affection with my kids. (Netflix)
Wait, that’s eight. Here are two runners up for #9 and #10. I’m slightly less confident recommending them to grown-ups, but I’ll sit and watch these and not be mad about it.
True and the Rainbow Kingdom. This show is basically candy: colorful, sweet, fun, harmless in moderation. (Netflix)
Frog and Toad. While I don’t think this animated adaptation is perfect, it captures a lot of what is so charming about Arnold Lobel’s original story collection. (Apple TV)
If I didn’t mention your personal favorite kids’ show, hop over and share it in the comments. And please send ideas for detoxing after so much digital consumption.
Storytime.
If you’re ever wondering what kind of chaos happens in other people’s homes, this story is for you.
My six year old capped off an extra spicy day by showing up at dinner naked, grabbing some paper towels and making them into a sort of dress/skirt situation. A short time later, she started jabbing the TV screen with a rolling pin (as one does) so her dad goes, “Time for bed!” and picks her up. And she is COVERED in bacon grease.
Because obviously the paper towels she used for her earlier fashion moment came straight out of the pan I used to make the bacon for the BLTs we had for dinner.
Just one of the many acts from the Grady Family Circus.
Quote of the Day
“The child with his sweet pranks, the fool of his senses, commanded by every sight and sound, without any power to compare and rank his sensations, abandoned to a whistle or a painted chip, to a lead dragoon or a gingerbread-dog, individualizing everything, generalizing nothing, delighted with every new thing, lies down at night overpowered by the fatigue which this day of continual pretty madness has incurred. But Nature has answered her purpose with the curly, dimpled lunatic.”
—from Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson
Chocolat chaud, because everything tastes better in French.
After they come in from sledding, my kids get a mug of hot chocolate. They seem to be happy with packets of Swiss Miss and piles of mini marshmallows, but sometimes I feel fancy and get a hankering for Parisian hot chocolate. Here’s how I do it if you want to give it a try!
CHOCOLAT CHAUD RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
3 cups whole milk
1 bag (approx. 10 oz) dark chocolate chips (I like Trader Joe’s 72% chocolate chips)
3 tbsp brown sugar
½ tsp kosher salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla (optional)
DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, heat the milk until steaming and you start to see tiny bubbles on the edge of the pan.
Turn off the heat and add the chocolate chips to the pan. Let sit for 1 minute, undisturbed. After 1 minute, whisk until the chocolate is fully incorporated into the milk.
Whisk in the brown sugar, salt, and vanilla. Adjust to taste. At this point, you can add up to another 1 cup of milk if you like. Return to heat and bring to a very low boil for about 1-2 minutes (this makes the hot chocolate thicker = more decadent).
To make the whipped cream, pour 1 cup cold heavy cream into a large bowl, add 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Whisk until it reaches the consistency you want (if you’ve never whipped cream by hand, I promise you it will come together in just a few minutes of whisking - don’t give up!).
Ladle hot chocolate into small mugs and top generously with sweetened whipped cream. Realize this is more dessert than beverage.
This recipe makes a lot, but it keeps well in the fridge for a week. Just reheat in the microwave.
I hope your weekend is warm and includes a trip to Paris, or at least some fancy hot chocolate. I’ll see you next week!
Love, Kathryn
Great writing, as usual. Enjoy a glimpse into your world.