Much like how weird it is to poop the first time after giving birth, or how sometimes you will buckle the kids up early just so you can go back into the house to have a minute to yourself, there is something else that people don't tell you about when you have kids...
You're eventually going to have to start doubling meals.
See, when you first have a kid, meal-planning is easy. You pretty much eat the same as you did before kids because the babe is just sucking on the boob for the first year of life.
But then they grow up. And then you have another kid. And another.
And you're left in the position that I am in today. On the threshold of having to double meals for my family.
The time has come, but I am resisting it. Just when I have a good system in place, I have to go and figure out something new.
Some people have commented to me how, since we're living with Vern's brother, he's lucky to have someone cook for him (because they mistakenly assume that either because I am, 1) a woman, or 2) living rent-free in his home, that I am cooking for him). Little do they know that I struggle enough with feeding my own family, that I feel utterly incapable of feeding another mouth.
This cooking stuff is not easy, people. It really is a full-time job. You have to plan the meals, buy the food for said meals, clean up after the meals, so on and so forth, three meals a day, seven days a week. It's never ending.
I enjoy cooking, for the most part, but there is something about doing it day in and day out that makes the activity tedious and chore-like some of the time.
And then, add to that, all the other basic household stuff that you have to do... like picking up toys, laundry, etc. If you're a normal person, a family of five is going to generate a lot of laundry, possibly making it on par with the "making meals" thing. But, if you're me, well, you know how I feel about laundry. And, on top of all that, you're supposed to find time to tend to and interact with your children. (And kudos to mothers who work outside the home as well. I don't know how you do it.)
I don't even know how I'm going to go about doubling some of my recipes... like, will I need to use another skillet (because some of my recipes fill my already-big skillet to the brim already). How much leftovers will we have and how will I account for those with meal planning for the next day (like, I imagine we'll have some leftovers, but not enough to feed the whole family again).
It's not easy, I tell you. It's not easy.
I just thought I'd let you know, in case nobody else does.
(And, also, it's going to feel weird to poop for the first time after you have a baby.)
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3 comments:
You know, when I'm trying to stretch meals, I have much better luck adding another filling side. It never seems took for me to make more of the entree for the samre reason...my skillet just isn't big enough. I also try to use the oven as well, for casseroley type sides, because I get really easily overwhelmed when there's too much happening on the stovetop. As far as leftovers, most of ours are used for work lunches for my husband, but growing up, we had a night (usually late in the week) where we had a leftover freeforall. Everything was put out on the counter, and we got to choose, with the option of making ourselves sandwiches on that night. Just an idea :)
I live for leftover nights.
Growing up as the oldest of 5, the way I learned to cook was by cooking for an army so my little tiny family ALWAYS has left overs.
I cook two or maybe three times a week. The rest of the time is leftovers. :D
My friend feels the need to disguise her leftovers, like a roast turns into stew, but I have no such compulsions. If it was good enough to eat on Monday, it's good enough to eat on Tuesday! We do end up having to make veggie side dishes every night, because those just aren't the same reheated.
I'm looking forward to pooping after having a baby the normal way. Pooping after a cesarean is a b*t*h. For like, weeks.
To stretch meals, I do what another poster said "add stuff." Bag of frozen veggies? Can of beans? Cheese? I also think about making a big enough roast for instance that the next day I can have shepherd's pie. And I take leftovers for lunch, or we have a leftover buffet on Saturday or whatever. My folks served baked potatoes with nearly every meal. I use potatoes or rice. People can have seconds or thirds with butter, or more of the veggie side if needed. In the summer I have salads too.
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