3 of 16

Write now Article Tools

My family enjoying the fun and closeness that cooking, together, as a family can bring. We have within the past year enjoyed cooking our meals together with my brain damaged son-in-law, Kelly.

Let me give you some background. My son-in-law, Kelly was in a car accident where he sustained brain damage. He loves people but most of all he loves his family and being with his wife, who he married 4 years ago. Kelly, at first was not very east to be with and times were not too pleasant after his car accident. Judy my daughter would be tired from work and have to come home at all times during the day to check on him. He would get into the car with strangers and one day someone stole his wedding band which had diamonds in it and matched my daughter's wedding band. Kelly could not really hold a job and so if we could keep him working part time that was good.

One day about a year ago, I was in the kitchen cooking dinner and I had not noticed it but Kelly was in the kitchen sitting on at the table when he looked at me and asked if he could help me cook. I asked him if he knew how to cook Chicken Francaise with Fettuccine Alf redo? Kelly just looked and me as if I was speaking a foreign language and real sweetly said, "no I don't know how to cook that, but can I help you? I told him he could help me. We would talk while cooking. Soon I realized that my dear son-in-law could communicate really clearly when he was cooking. I soon discerned that might be just the way to reach Kelly and reason with him.

We would cook together every weekend and just talk and laugh and have fun. Three months later, I noticed that Kelly was becoming much more alert and conversational. I asked him if he would like his wife to help us. He thought for a few minutes and then said, "Yes, I want her to help us but she is mad at me because I don't think before I do things." I explained to him, that Judy is not mad just sad because she loves you and wants to help you and she don't know how. Then I encouraged him to go ask his wife if she wants to have fun cooking with us. Kelly smiled at me and walked off to ask Judy to come help us. Soon cooking was a family experience that soon brought us all closer. Judy and Kelly became much more conversational with each other and they started laughing and singing songs and just enjoying each others company again.

We are still as of today enjoying cooking together as a family and loving the experience of the enjoyment and fun we have just talking, laughing and cooking. My Judy and her husband Kelly are communicating even though it is at a lower level then before the accident. Kelly is now working 35-40 hours a week. Judy is not so angry anymore and she takes the time to listen to what Kelly says. Cooking is certainly a family experience that has made our family whole again, happy and given back the joy of seeing my daughter once again happy and my son-in-law Kelly, communicating with us again. This all happened because of taking the time to experience cooking as a family.

Learn more about this author, Judy Waller.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Cooking as a total family experience?
We want to hear your view. Write now!