I took all of your advice to heart and it made dd's b'day the best she has ever had. B'days have never been a happy time for her, so this was a magnificent first in her life.

She had her first Wilton cake decorating class last night, and I gotta tell y'all, I have *never* seen this kid so jazzed up about *anything**. It was the very first time as her her mama I felt I got something right w/her!

She came to us at age 2yo severely attachment disordered from a nightmare of a beginning in life, and it was only recently I figured out that *perhaps* baking/cooking/cake decorating might be a way to bond w/her and make her feel good about herself.

We had a long talk last night about her class and all the tools I'd given her as b'day gifts and it was the most wonderful time we'd ever had together. She told me she didn't really want to go to college and wanted to do baking and cake decorating to make her way in the world. She told me how much she treasured her tools and classes cuz she believes that's her future!

She already needs more than the large Wilton tool caddy I bought her just to hold the tools from the kits for her first 4 classes, and we had fun last night going through the house trying to figure out what we already have that may work to hold her stuff. In the past she has never taken good care of anything at all of hers, but I do believe she will treat her cake decorating tools as if they were made of platinum.

We watched a few episodes of Ace of Cakes on the puter to encourage her further, and she's like a flower who's blossom has suddenly exploded open.

As a mama it's not always easy to read what kids need, it's been very gratifying and touching for me to finally see this happening in this kid.

Thank you again for all your suggestions!

MZ

That's so good to hear!! I remember taking those classes with a girl where I worked when I was about 21. I've never looked for such, however, are there technical schools that teach advanced techniques for cake baking and decorating? That might be something to look into. Or, perhaps your DD would be interested in a complete culinary schooling experience.
Good luck with this direction that your DD is choosing.

How wonderful and exciting for you! As a mom, you've expressed what we all hope for, for our kids to discover fulfillment and happiness and you got to share that with her!

Last summer my dd got into cake decorating and loves it. Ace of cakes is great and so is Platinum Cakes I think it's called. That is about several different groups of decorators, not just one as in "Ace". There is so much creativity involved. As well as alot of tactile stimulation such as kneading the fondant and icing the cake. Plus there is an immediate sense of accomplishment and pride. Congrats!

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That's so good news!

What a nice thing to learn. I am so glad that your daughter has your full support in her decorating. She will always have a way to pick up a few bucks in side jobs even if she decides just to persue it as a hobby.
Duff began his business from his home.

That is really neat. I understand how she feels about the cake decorating, I am self taught and love it when I get the chance to make a wedding cake (or birthday, anniversary.....anything!). A couple of years ago I had my first cake pic published in a wedding magazine in NYC. That was such an honor! This year I will be making the largest wedding cake yet, for 300+ people. I'm nervous but excited at the same time. I love watching Ace of Cakes and any other wedding cake show I can find.

Tell her to never give up on this, sounds like she has found her passion and I hope it goes very well for her!

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Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.