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 Making Mistakes Magical: What Tacos, Picture Books, and Play Can Teach Us About Connection

What if the mess-ups in your day—the spilled milk, the awkward reply, the math error—weren’t moments to cringe over… but chances to connect?

In this episode of The Feast Life podcast, I sat down with Eliza Kinkz, a brilliant children’s author and illustrator, to talk about her new book MisTaco. It's not just a silly story with tacos (although those are included)—it’s a tender, funny, and empowering message for families about the gift of mistakes.

Here’s what made this conversation so special—and why it just might change how your family handles those not-so-perfect days.

A Childhood Memory Turned Life-Giving Tradition

Eliza shared how a moment from her childhood—rolling misshapen tortillas with her grandmother—sparked the idea for MisTaco. Her grandfather would always say, “Don’t worry, I’ll eat that mistake,” and it stuck with her. Years later, it became the seed of a story that shows kids how to laugh at mistakes and move forward without shame.

In the book, the character Izzy has an embarrassing moment at school (yes, it involves pudding), and comes home feeling ashamed. But a family taco night transforms her mistake into a bonding moment—and something delicious. Eliza takes that one step further with the idea of MisTaco Night: a real-life family tradition where each person shares a mistake, builds a taco with symbolic ingredients, and eats it together. Brilliant, right?

Why Mistakes Matter—Especially in Homeschooling

As homeschool parents, it’s easy to fall into the trap of perfection—wanting every lesson, every day, every child to “get it right.” But Eliza’s story reminds us that mistakes are not detours from learning—they are learning.

When we model that we too mess up (and are okay!), we give our children permission to try. To grow. To laugh. To be human.

That means letting go of the fear of failing, for ourselves and for our kids. And that’s a message we all need.

Play Isn’t Just for Kids—Here’s Why You Need It Too

One of my favorite parts of the conversation was hearing how Eliza keeps her creativity alive. From thrift store dress-up adventures to mentoring elementary schoolers, she intentionally stays close to her inner child.

She encouraged all of us—especially busy, tired moms—to remember what lit us up as kids. Was it coloring? Playing with dolls? Making up stories? Those things aren’t “silly”—they’re sacred reminders of joy and connection. They help us show up more fully in our homeschool and our homes.

Try This at Home: Start Your Own MisTaco Night

Want to bring this idea to your family? Here’s how:

1. Gather your taco ingredients. Let each one represent something: cheese for something cheesy you did, salsa for “spilling your guts,” etc.
   
   
2. Share your mistake. Big or small—if it made you feel something, it matters.
   
   
3. Make a Mistaco together. You can whisper your mistake to your tortilla before eating it, or share it aloud.
   
   
4. Swap and smile. Bonus points if you make a taco for someone else’s mistake!
   
   
5. Celebrate trying. Remind each other that mistakes don’t mean failure—they mean you’re learning.
   
   

Final Thoughts

Eliza’s story is more than a charming picture book—it’s a gentle revolution in how we talk about failure. It’s an invitation to slow down, to play more, and to connect more deeply—with our kids, our creativity, and our true selves.

So next time the math lesson ends in tears or the toddler dumps yogurt on the cat, take a breath… and maybe make a taco.

Because learning, laughter, and love often come wrapped in the most unexpected packages.

About Eliza Kinkz:

Eliza Kinkz is a Tejana artist who never stopped viewing the world through the bright colors of her crayons, AND she even ate a few, too! She's illustrated many hilarious picture books, including Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo which won the Pura Belpré Illustration Honor, and she was the 2022 James Marshall Fellow. All her ridiculous scribbles burst straight from her heart, which is overflowing with joy...and probably a few crayon pieces. ¡MISTACO! is her author-illustrator debut, and you can spill all the frijoles to her anytime.

Grab Eliza’s book Mistaco . Follow her on Instagram @elizakinkz or visit her at elizakinkz.com.

Looking for more joy in your homeschool? Join our free workshop “5 Steps to a Life-Giving Homeschool” here. 🌮💛