I made chocolate chip banana muffins with the kids the other night, and I managed to do it without them fighting over whose turn it was to stir.

David did his normal job of mixing all the dry ingredients. He requires a lot of tools: spoon, knife, measuring cup, melon baller. But, most of the flour stayed in the bowl and got mixed.

For the first time, I put Rose in charge of the wet ingredients. So, she cracked the eggs, measured the milk, oil, and we did the vanilla together.

Until recently, I didn't get managers. I didn't disrespect them, but I also wasn't in awe of their work. As a classroom teacher, I did my job independently with basically no interference or support. But turning the actual measuring and stirring over to the kids while answering constant questions about is this enough milk and stopping David from spilling flour all over the counter, let alone having all the clean up responsibilities, gave me a new found respect for management.

In other words, the parenting roles change, but I'm not sure they get easier.