Oh my Oobleck!

Ok, y’all. Don’t poop your pants. I’m about to do something crazy. No, I will not be dancing on a bar. I’m pregnant, people. So no drinks. OK, maybe a few. But, definitely no dancing. Although, what I am going to do is about as bizarre as seeing me pregnant and dancing on a bar… I’m going to share a crafty idea. I know. Hell is freezing over.

Graham and I have been spending a little bit more time at home than we have in the past. I’ve not been feeling my usual go-get-’em self, so we’ve been doing a lot of lazy R&R. Which means, Graham’s been watching a little too much TV. So, in an effort to broaden our stay-at-home horizons, I’ve decided to do a little research. Yep, I’m learning a thing or two about how to become crafty. In a way that I can tolerate. This is my first attempt. Let’s hope my child, my kitchen, my carpets and I survive.

Step 1: Purchase the book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, by Dr. Seuss. You can get it used on Amazon for $3.13 to be exact. Or check it out at the library. That’s free, to be exact. Unless you can’t remember to return it on time. That would be me.
Step 2: Make sure you have food color and several cups of cornstarch in your pantry.
Step 3: Read Bartholomew and the Oobleck to your child. Feel free to edit and skip pages as you see fit. It’s a long story. Just don’t skip the oobleck part. That would be sad.
Step 4: Make the oobleck (see recipe below) with your child. I’m thinking the high-chair is a good place for this, with a disposable mat underneath the high-chair. Just in case things get a little wild.
Step 5: Let the kid have fun with the oobleck, making sure to reference the story while he plays.
Step 6: Make sure your child understands that although you did just have fun doing a craft with him, you are not crafty, and this may never happen again.

Oobleck Recipe:
Pour one cup of water into a large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring (any color, although the Dr. Seuss version is green. Just sayin’.) Slowly stir in two cups of cornstarch, using a spoon at first, then eventually using your hands. Embrace the mess. Get a new manicure tomorrow.

Recipe idea courtesy of Parents Magazine.