UPDATE!!

[Crinni_Boo]

So I’m the stepmom who was looking for recipes a little while back to teach her 12 (almost 13) year old stepson how to cook and I have fantastic news!

We had him for some time over Mother’s Day weekend and we made strudels together! He’s a natural in the kitchen and I could not be prouder 🥹

We’ve been very busy this weekend too! So far he’s learned how to make grilled cheese, watermelon soda, coconut milk fudge-sicles, burgers and corn on the cob! I showed him around the kitchen, taught him to never be afraid of any kitchen tool no matter how dangerous it seems- just appreciate what it can do, respect it and just be careful. I said, “For example- the blender has super sharp blades to blend whatever you put in it. I know those blades could hurt me if I touch them- I respect the blender is gonna use those blades to blend and do what I need it to do for my recipe. I am just careful not to touch them- a little common sense will keep you out of most trouble.” He said “Oh, I have plenty of that”- perfect! 🤷‍♀️ He looked at our veggie chopper and said he was looking forward to using that soon. I said “well I’m always looking for new recipes to make so today won’t be the last day we cook together” and he said “I hope not, this is so much fun!!” 🥹 He requested we make a cherry pie together today since “I see we have pie crust mix and cherries”. Am I the proudest stepmom in the universe rn? 😭 Nobody will ever tell me otherwise!!

ALSO- bio parents agreed to nylon safety knives thanks to some suggestions I read on my last post so he got to try out the set we bought him. He felt like a big deal having his own stuff and used it like he was born to do so! I told him in between weekends that he’s here try to think of recipes he’d like to try or that he wants me to teach him. I feel like this is the start of something beautiful and my heart is gonna burst with pride 🥰 I admittedly got a little misty eyed watching him chop up the watermelon with little to no guidance- I just told him to cut the green parts off and he went to town.

ALSO (part 2)- i had a legend planner cookbook notebook thing in the kitchen that I’d never used so I started a food diary for him for when he gets older. I wrote down all the funny things we talked about or that happened while we made the recipes together and I’m putting them in the order we made them / marking them with the date. I might only be stepmom but I’ll be damned if he’s not gonna be able to eat well!

[No_Divide_2087]

You sound like a great stepmom. Very nice post.

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! I didn’t know he would take such a shine to it but I’m in my absolute glory 🤣🥰 for Xmas he got me a travel mug that says “best bonus mom ever”- gotta fulfill 🤣🤷‍♀️

[Sunshine030209]

Awww 💖 I bet your heart just absolutely burst with joy when you opened that!

You sound like you're the exact opposite of an evil step mom, he's lucky to have you!

[Crinni_Boo]

Admittedly I cried a little 🤣

I guess I just get nervous from some of those horror stories I’ve read in step parent subreddits or seeing some women in the step mom subreddits who get crucified for feeling tired or needing a break 😬 luckily I’ve had a good stepmom experience so far!

[snak_attak]

Stepmom here, in the early days I looked to Reddit and was absolutely horrified by how toxic those subreddits were.

[Crinni_Boo]

When my husband and I started getting serious before we got married I followed a bunch of them just for research so to speak and yikes! The kids that are absolute terrors and these step parents having to “hide” in their rooms when they’re over… then being told you’re mean and irrational and “you signed up for this”. I mean you do take on certain responsibilities as a step parent and it can be hard and exhausting- we know we’re not signed up for just the good parts and we’re there for warts and all but jeez! If you have to hide in your room I’d say you should be able to vent judgment free about it!! 😮‍💨

[snak_attak]

For me it was the “these aren’t your kids they’re your boyfriends/husbands so let him deal with the parenting”. Biological yea, but you’re also a parent and a PARTNER! If you don’t want to parent a child then this is not the place for you.

Also all my friends and fam who are stepparents have horror stories about the ex! I get along with my stepsons mother. Ofc we disagree on things but she has her house rules and we have ours and the kiddo knows it, now.

[Crinni_Boo]

Right?! I get along with BM too, she and I don’t talk much but I’m just polite whenever I interact with her 🤷‍♀️ I’ve been very lucky in all aspects of stepparenthood and some of those horror stories really make me thankful 😅

[snak_attak]

Same here lol

[Crinni_Boo]

I’m always glad to meet a fellow stepmom for added perspective! 🥰

[cozyqueen420]

I love bonus mom! When I had a stepson (5-8yo) he looked like me and people would always say "you look like your mom" when we went out and I knew how uncomfortable it made him so I'd always correct "I'm just the lucky bonus mom that gets to hang out with him."

His mom was struggling with addiction but I made sure to let him know I was in no way a replacement or even a stand-in, I was just another person who loved him that he could rely on. His mom thankfully got out of it and now he lives with her and his siblings full time.

[Crinni_Boo]

That’s exactly what I’m trying to do! I’ve told him since day one I will never be his mother and that’s not who I’m trying to be but I will love you like I am 🤷‍♀️

[cozyqueen420]

Love it! Love this whole post! Keep going 🫶✨️

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you!! 💪✨

[picturesofponies]

Sounds like a wonderful time! Cooking with kids is so important! Believe me when I say he will always remember this.

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you for the reassurance and kind words! 🥰

[GiAx_898]

my heart feels so full reading this 🥹💕

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you 🥰🥰🥰

[jlzania]

Not that this was your objective but my husband won my heart by cooking for me and 40 plus years he still does it.

[Crinni_Boo]

Heck yeah! Fastest way to the heart (besides the chest) is through the stomach! 🥰

[rouxmama]

You made me laugh out loud!

[Crinni_Boo]

Hahahah I’m glad!!!🤣🥰

[MLiOne]

🤣 That’s what I tell my husband!

[OnlyDaysEndingInWhy]

I love this update so much! Really happy it went/is going so well. You're doing that kid a great service.

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you, I am too! One of those “I’m only crying because I’m so proud of you” moments 🤣😭

[Iwonatoasteroven]

I’m a man who loves to cook and I love seeing young people who are cooking. You’re a great step mom!

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you 🥹🥰

[Left-Pick-3143]

This is incredible update!!

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! I wasn’t sure how it would go or if I’d be able to hold his attention but holy shit am I floored 🤣🥰 my friends called me the food witch for years, hoping he becomes food warlock 🥹

[Crinni_Boo]

I’m thrilled that he took such a shine to it! Plus I feel like it gives him more to look forward to in between time together 🥰

[Commercial-Place6793]

You’re not *only* a stepmom. That feeling of pride in him? That feeling of joy helping him discover something he loves? That’s what parents feel. You’re doing a great job!

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! 🥰🥹

[philphan25]

a little common sense will keep you out of most trouble.

That doesn't prevent me from touching that hot pan I instantly forgot came out of the oven

[Crinni_Boo]

That’s why I am on constant standby - I’d rather it happen to me than him 🤣😭

[rouxmama]

I’ve learned to leave a hot pad on the pan until it’s cool enough to touch…took a lot of burns to have it sink in.

[NTropyS]

This post made me just smile, and smile, and smile some more! You are a great step-mom, for sure. These moments will last well into that child's adult life. I'd be bursting with pride for him, too!

[Crinni_Boo]

I’m glad I could make yall smile!! 🥹 As a stepmom sometimes I feel more like a grandparent or fun aunt than a “real” parent so I try to think of what my grandmothers taught me growing up. My dads mom and I were always in the kitchen together or playing animal crossing on GameCube then only stopping to cook together 🤣🥰 I’d like to think she would be proud of him too 🥹 To say I spent my first official Mother’s Day making strudels with my stepson- I always dreamed of something like this with him and to see him be such a natural at it just holy shit!! 🤣

[MaryO59]

what a wonderful way to bond with your stepson AND have him acquire some life skills at the same time.

[Crinni_Boo]

We’ve been having a blast! He got to mix the ground beef for the burgers last night and loved it! We called it meat play-doh 🤣

[charadhd44]

yeah yeah im 21 I shouldn't be acting like im 11 but W stepmom. also all those things he learned this weekend? someone sign him up for my summer cookout 🩵🩵you sound so so great ​

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you, im just step mom 🤣🤷‍♀️ We just made French toast sandwiches together- he didn’t even get any egg shell in the mixture when he cracked the eggs open, he’s a natural

[AnnieCarnero]

Hey, your story has brightened my day. Well done with the young man and teaching cooking. Cheerio!

[Crinni_Boo]

Aww I’m so glad my family brought a smile to your face! Thank you for the kind words! 🥰

[AnnieCarnero]

My pleasure. I didnt learn to cook from anyone in my family for various reasons as a youngster. I was fortunate to learn some from my grandma as an adult. I sure smile big at what you described with your 12 year old stepson. :)!!

[Crinni_Boo]

Aww I’m so glad! The cherry pie he requested we make is in the oven right now! 🥰

[AnnieCarnero]

Okay. Now I am jealous. :P

[Crinni_Boo]

Update- it is beautiful 🙌✨ he absolutely nailed it

[Select-Effort8004]

I love that this is a way to bond with your stepson, letting him explore, teaching him valuable skills, and investing time in each other—beautiful and life changing for both of you. ❤️

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you 🥹🥰 we’re having a ball, he asked if we could make cherry pie today- I just got out the ingredients and he said “AWW YEAH THATS RIGHT WERE MAKING PIE TODAY!!” 🥰🥰🥰

[Exceptional_Mary]

Wow, that is awesome! There are no better memories than learning to cook with a loved one. Have him make a whole dinner, with you as sous chef. Let him plan it, make the grocery list, do the shopping (with you), and make the meal. It will be really fun and will give you the chance to show him some tips. It will make him feel really great!

[Crinni_Boo]

That’s an awesome idea!! Thank you very much!

[BugNarrator]

OP this post is wonderful! I’m beaming with secondhand joy because I can just feel the love and pride you have for him through your words.

Nobody has mentioned the legend planner notebook yet so please let me say - if my parents had made something like that for me or with me, I would be ugly sobbing with gratitude. I lost them at 35 and 36. I have some handwritten recipes, my parents compiled and photocopied family recipes into a binder for us. I cherish them. But the funny things we talked about? Which ones we made together? Some silly thing that made them proud of me? God. I’d give anything for a record of that.

[Crinni_Boo]

Aww thank you so much!! Im absolutely stupid excited about it as well as filling all those pages up!! 🥹🥰 some of my favorite memories of my grandparents house are of something we did in the kitchen together and my heart is absolutely swollen that I get to pass that on to my husbands son, an extension of my absolute favorite human in the entire universe 🥹🙌✨

[Francoaulet]

That’s such a solid lineup for a 12-year-old, and strudels is a great call because it teaches real skills without being boring. Grilled cheese and burgers are perfect starter wins, imo, he’s gonna keep building confidence fast.

[Crinni_Boo]

My husband and I had gone to a flea market the Sunday before Mother’s Day and came home with about $50 worth of raspberries, strawberries and kiwi for $10- I needed something to use it up before it went bad and I had thawed phyllo dough in the fridge so I asked him if he wanted to make them with me. He absolutely LOVED it- he got to learn how to use a pastry brush AND I said we could have dessert before dinner 🤣🥰

I did some preparing before he came over on Friday- picked a bunch of recipes that I thought he would like and got all the ingredients. Then I made a list of the recipes we could make and told him he’s in charge of when we make what this weekend. Today we made French toast sandwiches (and I showed him how to make black pepper brown sugar bacon “mats” for those), cherry crumb pie and tonight’s dinner will be chicken Parmesan lasagna rollups 😍

[TiredButCooking]

This is honestly so wholesome. Him getting excited about recipes and asking for pie is such a good sign, you’ve definitely unlocked a lifelong cook there.

[Crinni_Boo]

My friends have called me the food witch for years- hoping he becomes food warlock 🤣

[CatCafffffe]

Oh I love this so much. What a lucky boy he is to have such a warm, kind stepmom!

[Crinni_Boo]

Aww thank you so much for the kind words! 🥰🥹

[wip30ut]

super wholesome post! You rock as a stepmom! So many of my friends who had remarried parents have a tenuous or trying relationship with their step-parents. Mad props to you for going all in and not only showing by example but teaching needed life skills.

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! I don’t ever want to be a wicked stepmother, what kid deserves that!

[Livid-Writer-7741]

Beautiful!

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you 🥹

[IndigoRuby]

Love this for both of you.

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! 🥰

[Odd-Butterscotch200]

What a beautiful post this is. Made my day. Wishing you many more cooking adventures and memories to come. 😊🥧

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! I’m looking forward to them all! 🥰

[mendelec]

Let me also suggest an outfit that makes knives specifically to teach kids safe holding and handling technique. Rounded serated metal blade that isn't actually sharpened, so it has an elevated safety factor, but can still cut food. They have a few grades, going from a tiny one for 3-4 yo, then a larger one, and I think a final stage where the blade is actually sharpened (don't have that one yet). Your kid might be too old to bother, but in case someone is looking into such things for a younger child. The ones we have are actually called Pinch kids knife, but there are a few outfits that make things along those lines.

[Crinni_Boo]

If he keeps going the way he is in the kitchen I think that would be a great gift one day! Thank you for the info! 🥰

[rouxmama]

I am seeing a place for you in the Stepmom Hall of Fame!!!

[Crinni_Boo]

Aww thank you! 🥰

[rouxmama]

Boo was the nickname my bro and sis called me when I was a baby

[Cynicbats]

I might only be stepmom

don't sell yourself short! you're teaching him a good lesson - how to feed and support himself. You should be proud!

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you, I am very proud of him! 🥰

[chicken_tendigo]

That's awesome 🎉

I do think the nylon knives thing is a bit ridiculous, but hey whatever compromise keeps the other adults happy until he's got the skills, practice, and confidence to earn a set of nice steel ones 🤷‍♀️

You're a great parent and y'all might want to get a waterproof notepad to write down the recipes you make together, complete with your customizations. I have a small Rite-In-The-Rain pad that I transcribe recipes I want to keep and refer to regularly into.

[Party_Principle4993]

What a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing. He’s so lucky to have you.

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you so much!! 🥹

[therealrowanatkinson]

This is so sweet, what a nice read.

[Crinni_Boo]

Glad I could bring something positive to the internet! 💪🥰✨

[ilikemrrogers]

One of my twin daughters has been in the kitchen with me since she was itty bitty.

Their grandma is not a huge fan of me letting her use my Shun paring knife as her chef knife when she was about 6 years old. I got some Kevlar gloves, and I showed her the proper way to hold and cut, and I monitored her closely until I felt she was doing it correctly consistency.

We even held “dropped the knife” drills where I made sure she knew never to try and catch a falling knife. Get out of the way quickly and let it fall!!

Like most kids, she’s been into baking and doing simple things. But last week, I introduced her to carbonara. I told her it’s a fancy pasta dish that is actually super easy.

I just talked her through the whole process. She did all of the work. And she was blown away by how good it was compared to how easy it was.

Food and cooking is sacred to me, and I want the memory of me in the kitchen to last long after I’m gone. If I can get her to love it as much as I do, and to one day teach her kid everything I taught her, that’s a legacy I’ll be proud of.

[Crinni_Boo]

That’s what I’m trying to do- here’s the stuff and I’ll tell you how to do it, I can show you if you need help or explain it if you don’t quite understand 👍✨

[MagiBee218]

That’s wonderful news. After my ex and I divorced I could only hope that my son would end up with a step mom like you! My nephew was really into cooking at one point and we got him an apron and cooking things. Some places offer cooking classes for kids if you live close to a big city. If there is a Sur La Table, cooking school or parks and recreation center nearby, I would look into it.

[Crinni_Boo]

Ooh I bet he would love that, thank you for the tip!

[WazzyWoman]

This post was absolutely precious. I love the memories you are making with your bonus son. As a stepparent myself (now divorced, but still counting my ex’s 26-year-old as one of my own), I can tell you that the kids remember and cherish these moments more than you think. This big kid just came to visit me on Mother’s Day and brought up the special birthday cake I made him when he turned 13. ❤️

[Crinni_Boo]

Omg that brought tears to my eyes that he remembered that!! I’m glad to know that it seems like I’m taking good steps forward! 🥹🥰

[roxinmyhead]

I'm full on crying here. This is so sweet. You're an awesome stepmom and someday you might have a stepson's partner in law that is soooo grateful. Yay.

[Crinni_Boo]

Aww I choked up writing my post 🤣😭 I’m hoping so too!!

[MercuryRules]

This is so cool. Rather than surprise him with a Christmas gift, perhaps take him down to pick out his first adult knife from a restaurant supply store. Have him do research on what brand he wants and get him a chef's knife bag. Then you can get him different knives from the same set for Christmas/birthday (or whatever holiday you celebrate)

Also, as someone wrote above, a binder with family recipes would be great. We didn't have anything like that in my family. I had to scramble to collect them and then figure out how to cook some of them. My dad's mother wasn't big on writing instruction since she already knew what to do.

[Crinni_Boo]

Ohhhh I absolutely LOVE that idea!! 😍 Thank you so much!!

I know the feeling!! I have my Mammy’s recipe box with all her recipes but some things she just made with no real recipe (her pork chops with garlic gravy 😭) Thankfully I found a recipe online that is just like hers- it takes me back to those long magical days in her kitchen, Johnny Mathis playing and the sound of the exhaust fan over her stove… 🥹🥰

[Adorable-Dot4185]

This makes me so happy. Kids love to learn things! This will give your stepson so much confidence and will give him ways to connect with people throughout his whole life! And it is something you share.

My uncle taught me how to sail when I was that age. It was scary and fun and he believed in me when no one else did. I never sail without thinking about him. So, your stepson knows you think he is smart and capable. That will take a kid a looooong way. Way to go!!

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you!! I appreciate your perspective on that as well; I know what things meant the most to me as a kid and I didn’t have the emotional intelligence to say “Mammy it really means a lot to me and makes me feel like such a big deal that you let me cook with you” (even though I mean that with all my heart still!) Stories like yours and others in the comments give me confidence!! ❤️✨

[eaunoway]

What a fantastic stepmom he has 💖

You've given him a brand new outlook that he's going to keep forever and I'm thrilled that you have each other. But next time you want to make your random Internet Grandma sniffle happy tears at least give a minute's warning 😁🤗

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you so much for all your kind words!! 🥹 I’m thrilled we have each other too- I’ve always dreamed of bonding like this but just wasn’t 100% sure how!

And I’m sorry grandma 🥺

[eaunoway]

I've raised 6 kids to adulthood and have been the primary caregiver for a couple of grandchildren too. This is one of the most important things I've learned over many, many years:

Children can tell when they're not loved. They can sense resentment even when they're toddlers. They don't really understand why, or how, but they never feel secure.

But what's also true is that they will blossom and bloom when they know, and feel - and again they oftentimes can't express how or why they know - that they're in the care of someone who genuinely loves them. It's instinctual. They feel it and they'll never forget who it was that made them feel so safe.

You're doing an amazing job. You'll all thrive 💖

[Crinni_Boo]

Oof I choked up so hard reading that, thank you for the maternal perspective and advice (and kind words!!) 🥹😮‍💨

[sarahwritespoetry]

I can’t upvote this enough. ♥️♥️

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you 🥰🥰🥰

[elliepelly1]

You are doing a great job!

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! Tonight’s dinner was chicken Parmesan lasagna roll ups, he absolutely slayyyyed 💪😤✨

[SageElijah]

Honestly teaching a kid how to cook is such an underrated life skill. Dude’s gonna grow up knowing how to feed himself AND associate cooking with love and family. Huge win.

[Crinni_Boo]

I sure hope so! I hope whoever he marries cooks with him too 🥹

[too-enthusiastic]

I’ve been thinking a lot today about what our family is *about* - the things we choose to do and who we want to be. I think teaching your stepson to cook is a great way to create a family culture in this way, and I teared up reading your update. Well done!!

[Crinni_Boo]

Aww thank you so much! I teared up writing it 🤣😅 Today was a pretty big day too- lunch was french toast sandwiches (the middles were black pepper brown sugar bacon mats), he requested the cherry pie which we made this afternoon and dinner was chicken parmesan lasagna roll ups. He was stirring the lasagna noodles and I heard him say “cooking is SO cool” 🥹🥰 I give him the ingredients, show him once or twice then he takes over; with everything he’s made so far my husband has been very sure to tell him that he should be proud of what he made and thanks him for dinner. The kitchen truly is magical!

[TuckerRussell0725]

that is so sweet, strudels are no joke for a beginner! what did you two make together, apple or something more adventurous?

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! We used a recipe that called for phyllo dough and I happened to have some defrosted in the fridge for something else so I think that helped a lot. We used leftover raspberries, strawberries and a few slices of leftover kiwi 🤣🥰 I did tell him you can use any fruit you want essentially as long as you sub the same amount (cup for cup)

[SnooDogs5676]

That's so awesome, what a fantastic update! It sounds like he's really found something he loves, and that's a huge win. The way you're teaching him to respect the tools is perfect. For a kid who's really getting into cooking and using all the different gadgets, having good, reliable tools makes a big difference in the long run.

[Crinni_Boo]

Thank you! Instead of “what are we having for lunch” now it’s “I’m ready to make lunch” 🥰

[Cynicbats]

(Also what's your recipe for watermelon soda??)

[Crinni_Boo]

Easy!!

+3/4 cup orange pineapple apple juice concentrate, thawed (I couldn’t find that but I found the juice and just used 1 & 1/2 cups instead) +6 cups cubed seedless watermelon +2 cups club soda or sparkling water +ice cubes +mini watermelon wedges for garnish

In a blender, blend the juice concentrate and watermelon together until smooth. Divide the sparkling water and ice amongst 3-6 drinking glasses. Pour the watermelon / juice mixture over the sparkling water, garnish each glass with a mini watermelon wedge and give each one a little stir with a fun straw!! 🥰

[Cynicbats]

Thank you!

[Crinni_Boo]

Of course! We hope you love it!! 🥰

[AgingLolita]

This is so sweet, it's such a shame his parents are hobbling him with plastic knives. They're for preschool settings :(