February 28, 2009
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I am in an angry mood....
...and I've relinquished my mommy duties for the evening. I've told the family to just think of me as some stranger sitting in the living room taking up space and looking dumb, but other than that, just leave me alone!
It all centers around the never-ending battle of dinner, and I am still at my wits' end. I'd finally resigned myself to the fact that Brandon is at an age that he prefers child-friendly menus and I have been working hard to provide him with meals that are tasty and provide a modicum of nutrition. It's not working.
Home-made pizza? Nope, not as good as ordering out from anywhere! Lasagna? Forget it. From-scratch macaroni and cheese!? Surely you jest! Hand-breaded and baked chicken tenders? Not in this lifetime! And forget about any vegetables other than mashed potatoes. Okay, sometimes he'll eat peas or corn, but that is about it. Give him boxed macaroni, frozen chicken tenders, carryout pizza....any of that any day. Meal times leave me stressed out from the hours of prep, cooking, and clean-up time that I don't even enjoy eating the food I make. Getting him to help me prepare meals to understand the time and effort that goes into feeding the family is of little to no help, and neither is making him fend for himself. The worst is when he tells me "oh, this smells awful" and I know that it absolutely does not. I know my way around the kitchen, and while I'm no gourmet chef, I can certainly hold my own.
I have been sick with a sinus infection for a week, and the family has been relying on leftovers and / or whatever Craig could come up with as I've rested; tonight was the first night in a week that I made a real meal that didn't just involve warming something up. I tried a new macaroni and cheese recipe (and it turned out great this time, as opposed to only mediocre last time!), I also sauteed some garlic, onions, and mushrooms for Craig and I to add to the mac (for more grown-up tastes); so I spent a lot of time slicing, dicing, and cutting through tin cans prior to making the pasta and the cheese sauce. I cut the fresh fruit! I even added the extra treat of HOT DOGS to the menu just because hey, we haven't eaten them in a long time. I got the boys to make a box of pudding! We were going to have a special treat of eating dinner in the living room while we watched a movie! (Treasure Planet!)
The movie never made it past the opening credits, and then the kids were sent upstairs for bath time and bedtime immediately following. I am in a grumpy, icky mood, and I don't think I care about cooking dinner any other night this week.
Comments (10)
oh man, i'd be pissy as hell if that happened to me. i don't even have any kind of solution to this problem of yours, other than kicking people in the shins.
much love, lady. you did a GREAT job, and *i* will say so, even if everyone else has their head stuffed up...something.
@Smarticus -
Fortunately, it's not everyone - just the 5 1/2 year old. Maybe we used to eat out too much when he was younger? Maybe we've given him too many choices in the past? I don't know, but it's frustrating, and I'm turning into a yelly mom. I don't like that. I also don't like making 52 different things to suit everyone. I miss trying out new recipes, and experimenting with foods and flavors. I have seriously considered kicking people in the shins! It probably doesn't help that I'm still not completely over this infection AND it's cold AND snowy and my patience is thisthin. But everyone is asleep but me, and I think I'll let it stay that way. I'm also running away to Borneo, or maybe Switzerland. Whichever is easier to drive to. Ha!
borneo sounds nice this time of year.
kids go through picky stages. my way of handling them is different depending on age. i will cave to the demands of the deals and give her what she wants (CARBS). but julia and ada have to eat what i cook or they can be hungry. i'm not suggesting you do that, though. everyone is different.
@Smarticus -
I think "eat what I make or go hungry" is just about it. We have peanut butter, make it yourself. I'm just not strong enough to do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111111
well i'm not a total bastard about it. i explain that i worked hard to put a meal on the table, and that it's good healthy food that's tasty to eat. then i say you can make yourself something (and clean your mess) or you may be excused from the table. i'd hate you to think i was all EAT IT OR STARVE YOU LITTLE SHIT or whatever, lol
@Smarticus -
Oh, I never thought you were like that - but it has been difficult for me to allow Bran to leave hungry, mostly because of how meals were handled as I grew up. It's a hard habit to break, wanting to please everyone all of the time, and kids know how to push buttons, don't they? And the worst part is that he's really a good kid, but he's getting older, and really trying to assert his independence, often in ways that just don't work out with the day's routine. And to think, Melena is even *more* challenging.
I'm joining the witless protection program!
You don't have to join, you are already in the program. You know my thoughts on this subject...(remember I'm mean RaRa) but no matter what has or hasn't been done in the past, he's gonna keep testing you guys. He's a kindergartner, with a strong personality, and very smart. You just have to outsmart him. I'm also of the belief that if they don't eat what's prepared, then they can go to bed hungry. It doesn't hurt any kid to miss a meal, and I think that he is gonna start to realize you mean what you say. I've seen how he works you, and he does it very well! I think you are a wonderful cook, and you do a wonderful job of making something that can be fed to the kids, but also good for adults too. (i'm a witness), but you also need to treat yourself with respect if you expect him to do it. Being a good mom and wife doesn't mean waiting on your kids hand/foot, or running yourself ragged to please them, it only wears you down in the end. You're a great mom who doesn't need to prove it to anyone. Even your kids.... you know where you can reach me..... as long as you don't reach out to slap me!
@discorara -
I would invite you to dinner tonight, but I'm making another pork roast, and I know you hate it. I've been craving it, and dammit, if nobody wants it, that's one pound of sun-dried tomato pork loin that I'm going to consume ALL BY MYSELF and then I will have a bowl of chocolate ice cream.
That's ok, I'm going over to my moms for dinner tonite with my sister and her boyfriend. That reminds me.... I forgot to tell Bryan about those pineapple.....what were they called?
@discorara -
Pineapple what? I don't even know what you're talking about because I'm old.
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