Canning raspberry jam with kids

I've been running around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off since we got home from our vacation the weekend before last. And I was in a similar mode in the early days of summer running up to our vacation. How did I manage to over-schedule our summer so quickly and efficiently? Isn't summer is supposed to be lazy and fun? I counted on one hand how many relaxing summer days there has been so far: two. With today being the second one.

After picking 25 pounds of raspberries and some early blues over the weekend, today's goal was simple. Can raspberry jam before the remaining fresh fruit in the fridge goes funk (the bulk of the berries were frozen over the weekend). With nothing on the schedule, we eased into our day, staying in jammies until it was time to put on our aprons and make the jam.

To be honest, I'm not particularly skilled in the kitchen and even less so when it involves highly distracted cooking with my kids. I often fall into that trap of doing for my kids because I know things will go faster and smoother, yet ideally, I want the kids to learn how to take care of themselves, to make their own good, fresh food, line dry their own laundry, etc. One might think with a blog about 'raising green kids' that mine would be ready to go all 'Little House on the Prairie' on their own by now. Ha! But no time better than the present to green these little city urchins, no?

So I read the directions for making raspberry jam. Then I reread. And reread. Then I got ready: sterilized jars/lids/rims, boiling water canner, tongs and wide-mouthed funnel, mixing bowl, big stainless steel pot, measuring devices, towels -- really, just about everything but the darned kitchen sink! I had to talk myself down off the ledge a few times: YES, you can do this! REALLY, they're going to take direction well!! There will be no THIRD DEGREE BURNS requiring emergency medical care!!

And it was wonderfully enjoyable, productive and accident free. I sometimes amaze myself by my parental capabilities when I'm channeling the patience of a preschool teacher and not being my regular self. We talked about how the bright red of the fresh berries changed to a deeper burgundy red once the berries were cooked. We talked about stirring constantly and timing the jell process once we got to a full rolling boil. We listened for the pops of the dome lids after they jars had all been processed. We got jam on our fingers, mouths and aprons and even the iPod that was cranking out the Jack Johnson tunes. Oh, and by the way -- did you know July is National Berry Month? Making jam with my kids turned out to be a lovely way to commemorate it. Of course, if your kids are too too young, it's always fun to ask your spouse to watch the kids and make the jam yourself (my usual MO).

We're off the library this afternoon to pick up a children's book that was recommended by an EnviroMom reader. I hope that we will keep this ideal summertime vibe we've got going so far today. Maybe a stop at the park to make daisy-chains?