Relinquishing Control

I can admit that when it comes to making something, I am quite anal (or concrete sequential as some might say) about the process and end product. Everything must be done a certain way. (Usually following directions.) And everything must look a certain way when it is finished. This is probably why I am better at crosstitching then sewing; one you just make a whole bunch of little x's—the other you need real skill.

Anyway, I like to make Christmas sugar cookies each year. It lets the kids create and I can work on finding a good recipe (note to self: the one you used this year...not so great). In previous years, I would frost the cookies then help the children with the sprinkles. This probably wasn't as fun for the kids, but it did get the result I desired.

I'm not proud of my micro-managing, so I decided to let it go this year. I helped the kids cut shapes out of the dough, we baked, and then I put everything on the table...sprinkles, frosting, gel writers, you name it. I put in on the table, gave a few simple instructions and let them go. Yep, I dropped those baby birds right out of the nest and they flew amazingly well.




Granted, the end result was not what I would have done...but that is probably a good thing. I think they all turned out fabulous.



I did use more of the ones I decorated for the neighbors we caroled to, but the children were happy to keep their own creations to sample. (Isn't reverse psychology wonderful sometimes?)

In the end I was happy with the whole experience. I will probably do it the same way next year and the kids are just going to get better at decorating (meaning I hope they don't waste as many sprinkles and gel icing). And this is a step in the right direction for me. I think relinquishing a little control is not so bad.