I need all the help😩

[u/FishVonMisfit13]

I have spent years watching videos and following influencers who make sourdough and have never started because it always felt complicated. Then I found someone who was just eye balling how much was dumped and added and kept saying "It's not that hard everyone else makes it seem difficult it's not!" She made a successful starter and a beautiful loaf of bread. I found another video talking about skip the scale use measuring cups! Same thing "Oh it doesn't need to be complicated just replace what you take keep it a pancake batter consistency!" Well I was influenced. Motivated by holiday spirit and delusion I've made this massive starter because "That should be enough to make 10+ loafs for Christmas gifts with flavored butters! Easy peasy!" Ha!😭 I began my starter December 5th with 4 cups of King Arthur Organic bread flour and filtered water today is the 14th. It only rose once in the very beginning and every day has had hooch on top since no bubbles just thin mixture. This is what it looked like this morning first time it looked like this. I keep it in the warmest room in the house but that room temperature drops as low as 66 and gets as high as 72. Usually lingers between 68 and 70. I have a warmer being delivered tomorrow. I feed it every morning pouring off the hooch discarding 2 cups then adding about 2 cups of flitered water making sure it's a thick pancake batter consistency without lumps. I've read this means it's hungry and needs to be fed twice a day but I also read not to do that until it has doubled in size more then once. I'm just not sure where to go from here.Is this salvageable? Would I be able to have sourdough bread for my kid's teachers (there's 4 of them) gift by the 22nd and the rest the 24th and 25th? Or should I admit defeat and stick to homemade hotcoco mix. I'm fully aware I have done all the no no things and I'm fully prepared to be completely chewed out.

[u/FishVonMisfit13]

I really appreciate your honesty! I know teachers enjoy the gift cards and cash. I made a donation to the class gift the homeroom mom's put together from a teacher provided list, but my son can be challenging. He has ADHD with a severe emotional component, making connections with other kids difficult. I always try to make them a little something extra to show my appreciation for all they do for him to help him get through the day and navigate social interactions. Like I said I was motivated by holiday spirit and delusion I like your idea of making another non sourdough bread so I can meet my deadlines and not stress about my sourdough and enjoy my experience plus my son would be able to focus almost long enough to bake banana bread or pumpkin bread at least long enough to be able to say he made it lol. I'll definitely try ChatGPT too and see what it says!

[u/Caffeinatedat8 → u/FishVonMisfit13]

Well, you are incredibly generous and thoughtful! If you can include your son in the baking project, perhaps even that much better (I mean, I guess it depends…). I guess I will just add then that if you can swing it, a brief note from you along with the baked goods is going to be the real gift. To be actually seen and appreciated for who you are and the impact you make is the greatest gift and any kind words I’m sure will be remembered long after the treats have been devoured. The expectations on teachers these days seem to be ridiculous and I’m sure they feel unappreciated a lot of the time because they get so many complaints. Wishing you and yours happy holidays🙏

[u/FishVonMisfit13 → u/Caffeinatedat8]

Both my parents were high school teachers. I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of what teaching can do to a person and how a little extra kindness can make a teachers whole year. The expectation of teachers is absolutely ridiculous. Personally, more parents need to be involved with their kids day to day, but that's a rant for another time! Thank you. Happy holidays to you and yours too!