Julia Child – In cooking, you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude

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Welcome to The Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and today is September 13th.

It’s National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day! Now, this one brings a mix of excitement and a slight panic to many homes.

The idea behind this day is simple: give kids the chance to step into the kitchen, get creative, and cook up something special. While for some parents this may conjure up visions of flour-covered countertops and a slightly charred breakfast, there’s a deeper message here about letting kids explore, create, and learn – all while making a bit of a mess.

Speaking of mess, I found the perfect quote for today by the legendary chef Julia Child. She said:

"In cooking, you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude."

And if that doesn’t perfectly sum up what happens when kids are in the kitchen, I don’t know what does.

Let’s unpack that for a moment. Julia Child wasn’t just talking about cooking here. That "what-the-hell" attitude is about embracing the process, the experimentation, and yes, the mistakes. She’s giving us permission to let go of the need for perfection and just do.

And if you’ve ever seen a child tackle a recipe, that’s exactly what they embody. There’s an unbridled enthusiasm in how they approach cooking – the way they mix ingredients without fear, or taste-test with complete curiosity, as if they’re uncovering some great culinary mystery. It’s not about getting it right, but about the joy of trying.

Today’s holiday, Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day, celebrates exactly that spirit. It’s about giving kids the space to explore and experiment, knowing full well that the pancakes might be a little too crispy or the cookies a little too doughy. But here’s the magic: in the end, it’s not about the meal. It’s about the memories.

I mean, think about it – how many of us really remember exactly what we cooked when we were young? What we do remember is the laughter, the chaos, and the sense of accomplishment when we pulled something out of the oven that was vaguely edible. Those moments stay with us, because they aren’t just about food; they’re about learning, creativity, and connection.

Julia Child, with her what-the-hell attitude, reminds us that sometimes, the most important thing isn’t how things turn out, but that we were brave enough to try in the first place. And kids, well, they’re natural-born risk-takers. They approach cooking – and life – with a sense of wonder that we can all learn from.

So today, whether or not you have kids in your life, maybe take a little of that what-the-hell attitude with you into your day. Don’t worry so much about making things perfect. Get your hands dirty. Make a mess. And, who knows, you might just surprise yourself with what you can create.

And for those of you who do have kids, maybe today is the perfect excuse to hand over the spatula, step back, and watch the magic happen – with a fire extinguisher nearby, just in case.

And if you are seriously worried about the consequences about handing over the kitchen to the kids... well STOP that negative thinking... because today also happens to be Positive Thinking Day!

So be positive...

And maybe your meal will taste great and you won't have a lot of clean up to do after...

That’s all for today. I'm Andrew McGivern, signing off and whatever happens today I hope you can savour the flavours and enjoy the moments.

Until next time, keep things a little messy and a lot adventurous. I’ll see you tomorrow with another Daily Quote.