WHISKING UP FAMILY FUN Kitchen Adventures: Kid Edition
BATTL
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For Col. (Retired) Scott Kirkpatrick, the moment was a test of his leadership.
Soldiers under his command in Iraq stood before him with a request. The mission at hand was to re-take a critical Iraqi Army facility that insurgents had seized. His soldiers already had combat experience in the area, a hotbed of insurgent activity where they and civilians in the area had come under frequent mortar fire and IED attacks. They knew the mission was extremely dangerous. And they wanted the job.
Could your child be a future celebrity chef? Could your baby be a world-class baker in waiting? Help transform your toddlers or school-age kids into tiny tastemakers by following these three simple tips. USE YOUR SPACE AS A SKILL ZONE. It takes more than just a love of food to make delicious meals and treats, as cooking and baking put all five senses to the test. Helping in the kitchen enables small children to heighten their awareness of smells, tastes, sounds, and textures while learning new words. Having them measure ingredients
They told me, “Sir, we need to be the unit that takes that facility,” Kirkpatrick says. “They knew we were the best and most capable.” Kirkpatrick carried the request to U.S. Armed Forces commanders, and his company won the assignment — and the battle, taking over and holding the army facility for 16 days. His soldiers were firmly rooted in what he calls the Confidence Zone: “They had trust in themselves, and they had trust in me as their leader, and they believed it was the right thing to do, even though they knew it would expose
and pour them into bowls is an easy way to refine their motor skills, and your guidance behind the counter will encourage them to follow directions. If your kitchen companion is a baby, you can still involve them by describing the sights, sounds, and smells surrounding them and letting them touch some of the food — all great tools to assist in developing their connection to the world. KID-PROOF YOUR MEAL PREP. Before taking your child on a culinary journey, check that their countertop travels won’t endanger them. It’s obviously a big no-no to rest a sharp knife on a cutting board that small hands can reach, but little things like toothpicks can also pose a risk. If your small assistant is old enough to cut up ingredients, a plastic utensil will be less painful than steel if the blade misses its mark.
them to risks.” Throughout that 13-month tour of duty, Kirkpatrick accompanied his soldiers into battle 80% of the time. Asked about the outcomes of the tour, Kirkpatrick’s voice breaks as he says, “We were able to bring everyone home alive.” After a 28-year career in the military, including four combat tours in Iraq and two in Afghanistan, Kirkpatrick is bringing what he learned about leadership to civilian life. He has earned countless medals, including the Bronze Star several times for heroic acts in ground combat, a Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit for outstanding service, loyalty, and fidelity. He also served as a senior Army Inspector General officer for over eight years, focusing on ethics, compliance, and employee relations.
KEEP FAMILY FLAVORS FLOWING. Want to give your mom or dad a holiday surprise they’ll never forget? Present them with a meal based on one of their famous recipes that their grandkid(s) helped prepare! Holiday gatherings are great for sharing the details and delicacies that shaped your family’s history — and a wonderful opportunity to pass down those special traditions to the next generation. With the holidays upon us, now is a perfect time to introduce little ones to the joys of baking and cooking by turning your kitchen into a safe space for learning and bonding.
“Retirement is not a word I like to use,” he says. “I call it ‘pivoting to my next purpose.’” At this stage, that includes leadership training and speaking engagements for clients in business and sports.
Many people assume that all anyone has to do to be a leader in the military is to give orders. “But regulatory authority will only take you so far,” Kirkpatrick says. If subordinates comply just to avoid punishment, they will break down in the face of tough assignments, he adds. “People don’t have to disobey an order to cause a mission to fail.”
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