To All The Cake Decorators With Small Children...
Decorating By stephanie214 Updated 19 Mar 2006 , 7:34pm by stephanie214
Well I have a 2 1/2 year old son, am pregnant and work full time so I don't decorate because I just don't have time. On the weekends I am trying to keep my toddler busy so Daddy can do his homework as he goes to school full-time and works part-time. I can't wait until this summer because I get to be a SAHM. Since DH will be away DS and I are living with my parents for the summer and I can't wait to spend time with Kaleb and go to the pool every day. I am so ready for a vacation.
I just started decorating (ya'll know how frustrating it is to try and get something just right while someone is yelling..he took it from me, No I didn't, on and on and on...) anyhoo, mine are 9, 6, 4, and 3...FUN FUN!
It is not easy!
I'm a night time baker myself. So far I've just been doing cakes for my husband and kids, but I just got my first order for tomorrow. I'm doing the turtle from Baby Einstein.
Mine are 7 and 4-1/2. I also used to do all decorating at night. About a year ago, I had a 2 layer 1/2 sheet cake sitting on the island iced, smoothed and ready to decorate. I needed a few more details on the decorations, so I got on the computer and left the kids alone... BAD MOVE!!!! I heard them running around and laughing, so I figured they were OK. When I walked into the kitchen, I saw them running around the island. Every time they circled the cake they would run their fingers through the sides of the cake leaving huge gouges in the sides. All I could say was "Go to your room now" at the top of my lungs. Usually they say, "But Mom..." But this time they went straight to their rooms. We've had a long discussion about "mommy's cakes" since then. I now try to get some decorating done while my son is in school. DH is good about keeoing them busy when I need him too.
I can so relate to this. My kids are 7, 6, 5, 2, and a seven months old. They are all boys except for the baby. Need I say more 
When they see that I am making a cake they set up a military stategy to capture the icing. One will be the distraction in the form of " He hit me" 
or he's swinging on the ceiling fan" 
or " mom, why is the water in the toilet overflowing?" 
While I am dealing with the "disaster" the others are in the kitchen scooping icing into their mouth, or better yet, taking the entire bowl back to their base of operations. This is usually someplace that is very hard to clean spilled icing off of. I always make more icing than I need in case I happen tho lose the icing war. 
They really aren't as bad as it sounds, just very active. I try to decorate when they are in bed but that usually means some very late nights. I do get discouraged sometimes because I can't put as much time into my cakes as I would like but I try to remember that they will only be little once. Sometimes you just have to put down the decorating bag and go read them a story while they still want to listen to the sound of your voice.
Edited because I can't even remember how old my kids are. 
My decorating happens at night. I need the time of not being interupted or having my 2 1/2 year old do a running hug at my legs, or want to help. My 5 year old, when home from school, wants to watch, which the 2 1/2 then wants to also. I have a small kitchen, so this just doesn't work out. I usually bake and try to get the colors mixed during the day so that there is less time taken during the night. My husbad is great now that he understands what goes into it. He keeps them in the living room and gets them in bed for me. I think we all enjoy when we get up the next morning. They can't wait to see what I did and I can't wait to show it off!!
I have to say that I always feel a little guilty when I'm working on a cake. My kids are 3 1/2 and 5 next month. I have my hands full. Yesterday they both seemed very sad and I know I was spending WAY too much time in the kitchen. Had to get a cake done by 6:00 pm and it was one I'd not done before. I don't do many cakes, but still haven't found a great way to balance things out. I usually bake one day, then decorate the next, but it still cuts into a lot of family time. I used to pray for God to bring me some business, but lately I thank Him for keeping it light and still somewhat steady. My kids have to be my primary focus. They just group up so fast! 
Thanks for the acknowledgement! I have a 4yo and 3yo- both VERY active, and both very interested in anything I am doing in the kitchen. Like many others here, I do most of my baking and frosting prep during the day and decorate in the wee hours of the night. I try to have my ideas/designs sketched out on paper ahead of time so that I can work a little faster decorating. Staying up til 1 am isn't really that bad... until your 3yo is standing at your bedside at 6am announcing that it is morning time and he's hungry and oh yeah, he needs my help using the toilet NOW! UGH. Any time I can get to bed before midnight is AWESOME! I wouldn't trade these days being able to be at home with them for the world though!!!!!!!!!
LOL Stephanie. I guess I didn't realize your kids were all grown and out of the house. I have a soon to be 13 y/o (next week) a 9 y/o, a 4 1/2 year old and a 3 year old. My 3 y/o and 9 y/o are the worst about getting into things (although better with training after 3 years of doing cakes). I still have to make sure the cakes cool on the oven or one of the higher counters or my 3 y/o has mice nibbles out of the top of the cakes! Fortunately, the three times she's done this so far, it was cakes for us or one of my very close friends who really couldn't care less. That's the part of the cake we cut off anyway. My kids also live for the cake filets. My oldest will get home from school and anxiously ask "Did you top the cake yet?" and then hoover till I finially consent to do so! LOL. I also do things in stages. I started the flowers for her cake (next week did I say? Man that's coming right up!) about a month ago. I have most of the royal icing flowers done and will finish those this weekend after I do these cakes I'm donating to the audubon. But I do most of my hard core decorating b/w 9PM and Mdn (after they are all in bed) and kind of validates my tv time since I can decorate and watch TV at the same time (usually-depending on how complicated the cake is). But I love doing them so much, I can't stop now! And nothing beats the reactions you get when you create a real masterpiece 
I have a five year old and he just wants to eat frosting! However he does like to do playdoh while I decorate cakes. He says that he is decorating cakes, too. It is very cute! His favorite thing to watch is Emeril. He puts a dishtowel on his shoulder and yells "Bam" and throws "spices". 
After reading some of your posts, I can't say much because I only have one who just turned one year. I will say she is very good but I hate spending too much time trying to keep her busy while I am in the kitchen. Sometimes, though, she and the dog drive me batty when I am trying to work on something. Hubby is usually good at entertaining them for awhile but he was busy today.
My 2 boys are 10 & 2. the oldest one helps entertain the youngest one. Of course i still get plenty of referee action. When my oldest isn't here, my youngest sits on the table & asks questions while i decorate. After it's ll done he tells everyone that WE baked a cake.
Hello fellow bakers with young children!! I am also a cake decorator with small children I have 4 boys ages 6 years, 4 years and twins that are 2 1/2 years. I usually give them an activity to do while I decorate, like baking cookies and I let them decorate them any way they want. They want to help, as most kids do, so I usually try to let them do something in the kitchen otherwise they drive me crazy.... Happy Baking!!
I just finished reading all your posts an am amazed at your patience and ability to do this with small children .
I enjoy hearing you youngsters( 
) taking your responsibilities so seriously.
A big congratulations to each an everyone of you 
Hey SheilaF,
I think I'm one of the oldest on the forum .
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