Maybe a good idea, maybe not

Last Sunday afternoon when most everyone else was resting, Teresiah and Lydiah (ages 11 and 12) made cookies with me.  Also one day Teresiah stayed home from school because she had hurt her foot so we made cookies for the three students who are at home, waiting to start their first year of high school.  So, of course, Teresiah wants to make cookies today.  I had to say yes for a number of reasons.  The day before was her birthday.  At the orphanage, it is hard to have a birthday celebration for each child (there are currently thirty, which of course averages to a little over 2 a month.)  Another problem is that some sponsors would send numerous and elaborate presents, while some sponsors sent a card.  So they decided to have a birthday outing twice a year.  This is a new policy.  Last year Teresiah had a party, this year none.  So we made cookies - sugar cookies with red sugar sprinkles left by some Mzungu.  Well, it happened to go well with the red jello that I brought from the US.  So tonight we all had red jello and cookies.  Some of the older children had had jello before, but it was new to most.  Last year Steve and I bought ice cream from Naivasha, and quite frankly, it was a flop.  Most found it too cold.  It was too cold to hold, too cold on their teeth.  Some of the staff left it until it melted and came to room temperature.  So maybe the jello was a good idea.  The cookies?  Well, the boys who are in the same age group came in and they wanted to make cookies too.  So Newton and Johnny made peanut butter cookies with me and I promised the others they could make cookies next weekend.  Meanwhile one of the young men from the US was standing around waiting to sample, but these kids are very protective of their cookies and would not let him have a single one.  When they were done we put them up on a high shelf in the kitchen until it was time to serve (ration - 1 cookie per person for those under 6, 2 cookies per person for those over 6.)  I commented to the young man that this was hard work, meaning not hard to make the cookies, but it takes patience to show the kids and let them do it.  (They seldom ever get an experience like this.) I wondered to myself if I was that patient with my own children, letting them make cookies.  Then I wondered if I ever let them make cookies when they were that age.  Aaron, the young US volunteer, then tells me that it's not hard to make bread pudding.  (Not a subtle hint as he has been after me to make it for him.)