Welcome back to On the Ground Parenting for Episode 20! Cookie recipes from the show are here on Google Docs to share and make!

Hosts Sandy, Sam, and Kelly continue their holiday discussion, focusing this week on the cherished traditions of holiday baking, cooking, and sharing recipes. They explore how these food-centric activities serve as a powerful way to build connection and meaning during the season.

The conversation highlights the value of gifting through food—items enjoyed in the moment that won't clutter the house or end up in a landfill. The hosts share personal and often humorous stories about their favorite recipes and the memories they evoke:

Parallel Play Baking: Sam shares her unique current family tradition. In their kitchen, everyone makes their own recipe simultaneously, working without interfering with one another. Her son, Ryan, has perfected his chocolate chip cookies but happily passes off the "boring part" (scooping and baking) to Sam.

The Cinnamon Bun Rhythm: Kelly's tradition involves making time-intensive yeasted cinnamon buns on Christmas morning, a ritual that provides rhythm and grounding during the holiday rush.

Renowned Cookies: Sandy fondly remembers two family classics: her grandmother’s famous thin and crisp oatmeal cookies and her mother’s delightful, melt-in-your-mouth whipped shortbread.

The hosts also touch on the fun of cookie swaps and the shared experience of baking—celebrating successes and laughing over failures, such as runny cheesecakes and collapsing gingerbread houses.

A Call for Support:

This episode also serves as a special platform for the Muskoka Family Focus Parent Ed team to request support, either with a one-time donation or by signing up for our Patreon, https://patreon.com/OnTheGroundParenting. We need your financial support to ensure we can continue offering free educational programming and keep the podcast running. Donations over $20 are tax-deductible.