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why do we do that?

Jan 24th, 2012 43 Comments
Posted in: cooking, family, featured, Mom

Some­time over the week­end I sit down and make my weekly cal­en­dar and meal plan for the upcom­ing week.  I try to go to the gro­cery sans kids and the week­ends are the eas­i­est time to accom­plish that goal.  I bought a nifty weekly cal­en­dar and it’s worked out per­fect for the last few months.  I’m able to note any appoint­ments, nor­mal rou­tines changes, and errands that need run.  I’m also able to write down what I’m plan­ning on mak­ing for break­fast, lunch, and din­ner each day of the week.

The daily cook­ing may be the worst part of this gig.  Wake-​​up, make break­fast, clean-​​up break­fast, think about lunch, make lunch, clean-​​up lunch, think about din­ner, make din­ner, clean-​​up din­ner.  Rinse and repeat.  Hav­ing it writ­ten down and planned for ahead of time makes me less crazy.  A lit­tle any­way.  There are some con­stants… Pan­era on Mon­day for lunch with the boys before story-​​reading at the library, Wednes­day morn­ing we have smooth­ies because it’s bus day and we have to hurry, Fri­day night we eat out.  I always ask Babe if there’s any­thing he’d like for din­ner that week.  His answer is always the same.  Nope, what­ever is fine.  Great, thanks for your help.

So I plan, I gro­cery, I rinse and repeat.

I fol­low the plan pretty  much to the let­ter except for those days Babe calls and says he won’t be home for din­ner.  As crappy as that news is I do find solace in the fact that I know I don’t have to cook now.   Because truth be told in my fam­ily of six I’m really only cook­ing for one of us.  Babe.  I can pretty  much eat pasta with some sprin­kled cheese on it every night.  The boys don’t eat any­way.  The girls will eat yogurt and car­rots for din­ner if I let them.  On the nights I know he’s not com­ing home ahead of time I plan din­ners like grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, and mac’n’cheese’dogs.  Nights I know he’s going to be home for din­ner I resort to the cook­books and torn out recipes for some­thing he’ll like and some­thing he could take for left­overs the next day.

Why do we I do that?

I’m pretty pos­i­tive that Babe loves a grilled cheese.  I’m even more pos­i­tive that he’s likely to eat what­ever I make for him.  He would prob­a­bly grum­ble over cereal for din­ner but he’d get over it.

Yet I feel some kind of Betty-​​Crocker-​​do-​​good when it comes to prepar­ing a meal.  You should know by now I cer­tainly don’t slave away in the kitchen.  The meals I do make are easy, fuss free, and usu­ally con­tain cheese and pasta.  But still.… I cook a proper meal.

On the week­ends he’s away it’s no dif­fer­ent.  We eat pizza, I buy pre-​​made meals from the deli in our expen­sive gro­cery store, stay in our pj’s waaaayyyy too long.  But when he’s here I hold our fam­ily to a dif­fer­ent stan­dard.  Why do we I do that?  The toys are always put away, the kitchen is usu­ally clean the way I like, and the kids are all in bed on time but we eat like col­lege kids.  Why do we I do that?

Mama bear is headed out of town this week­end and I asked Babe if he wanted me to stock the fridge with some easy-​​to-​​makes and some favorites.  He thought about it long enough to try to con­vince me he was really think­ing about it.  Nah, we’ll be fine.  I’ll order pizza and stuff.  I’m going to be gone for four full days and nights.  That’s twelve meals, eight snacks and a hel­luva lot of milk.  I just smiled at him, let­ting him off the hook.  I’m going to the gro­cery before I leave though.  Betty-​​croker-​​do-​​good and I will have the house stocked, just in case.

 

**As I was writ­ing this post I did a Google image search for the lovely Betty Crocker herself.…ohmygawd!  Did you know?!? I didn’t!!  She isn’t even a real per­son!!  She’s a mar­ket­ing made-​​up per­son based on sta­tis­tics!  Her image has been changed more than a dozen times since 1936 and today she is, nat­u­rally, a com­puter gen­er­ated icon.  Wha?!?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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43 Responses to why do we do that?

  • Just Jennifer

    Replied on: January 28, 2012, 6:02 PM

    I am com­pletely pissed that Betty Crocker was never a real per­son! That is like total con­sumer manip­u­la­tion that also led to way too many a guilty wife. Ugh!

    I don’t know if you’ve heard me talk about my friend J.Ho who started a meal plan blog.…Mom Rocks Meal­time? Well, she’s pretty awe­some with it. She chooses easy but yummy recipes, makes and reviews them — with pic­tures! She’s @MomRocksMeals on Twit­ter, if you’re interested.

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 31, 2012, 7:21 PM

      Con­sumer manip­u­la­tion is RIGHT!

      Check­ing her out now! Thanks for the tip Jen!

  • julie gardner

    Replied on: January 27, 2012, 2:05 PM

    Oh my. You got me on this one.

    When I receive a text from Bill say­ing he’ll be late and catch din­ner at work…I some­times catch myself smil­ing as I type in the sad-​​face emoticon.

    Because I do the same thing. I cook for him — even though (as his answer is the same as your hus­band ‘s “What­ever is fine”) the kids really will eat whatever.

    Soup. Sand­wich. Pasta. Leftovers.

    I think for me a part of it is the desire for that “old fash­ioned sit down din­ner” of pre­vi­ous gen­er­a­tions. And we do that sev­eral nights a week. Because we’re old-​​school. And old. Plus my kids will be in high school soon so I’ve got the urge to make these final years as an intact fam­ily count.

    But.

    Some­times, just want to breathe. And not rinse, repeat.
    And it’s nice to know you know exactly what I mean.

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 31, 2012, 7:20 PM

      smil­ing and typ­ing sad-​​face emoti­con has had me gig­gling all week­end. So so true.

      I agree with the sit-​​down din­ner thing. Have you ever come across the blog Din­ner. A Love Story. It’s a favorite of mine. A cou­ple who are REAL good cooks write about cook­ing meals and being a fam­ily. I’ve never made a sin­gle meal of theirs bc they are WAY out of my league BUT I always fin­ish their posts with a smile. You might like them too!

  • Bridget

    Replied on: January 26, 2012, 10:32 AM

    I do that too. If I’m going to be gone for a few days I’ll even make meals and freeze them for the fam­ily. When Dal­las goes, he just goes.

    Also, even after 10 years I still fluff up my hair and make-​​up before he comes home.

    Love? Maybe?

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 31, 2012, 7:18 PM

      Some­times I don’t shower until 3:30 or later so that I“m at least smelling bet­ter for Babe. And actu­ally a post you did a cou­ple of weeks ago about the kids run­ning around crazy dur­ing din­ner while Dal­las was gone… that’s what got me think­ing about this one.

  • Amanda Austin

    Replied on: January 26, 2012, 8:50 AM

    You know, I do the same kind of thing with my hus­band. When he’s not around, i swear I will just eat some cereal for din­ner or throw some pasta in a pot, but when he’s there, it has to be meat, veg­gies, a carb, etc. for what it’s worth, he also does the “I don’t care, what­ever!” thing :)

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 31, 2012, 7:17 PM

      I’m so glad to hear that pretty much all of us do that… so funny isn’t it?!

  • Sperk*

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 10:41 PM

    Meals. Ugh. I stress over them. And now my 13 year old has decided ani­mals are treated poorly and is a veg­e­tar­ian. Can you say grilled cheese…everyday?
    I want to eat at your house! ;)
    Have a great time away.

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 31, 2012, 7:17 PM

      I could actu­ally eat grilled cheese every­day, in fact I want to open a grilled cheese restau­rant… all dif­fer­ent breads, types of cheese, top­pings… hhh­m­mmm! But I under­stand your frus­tra­tions too!

      I did have a great time, thank you!

  • Shannon from mynewfavoriteday

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 9:45 PM

    You are a super­star! I pur­pose­fully (I think shhh) just wait for ksp to get home so it’s clear I am not the only one cooking…although I hear ya on the gro­cery store…somehow pizza for break­fast lunch and din­ner isn’t per­fect. Also, pizza as a snack seems like a lot of pizza for 4 days:) i am sure they sur­vived, but more impor­tantly did you have a blast?

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 31, 2012, 7:16 PM

      They did and I DID!! DID DID DID! Thank you Shannon!

  • Runnermom-jen

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 7:54 PM

    First of all…hope you have a blast on your 4-​​day get­away!! Woohoo!
    If my hus­band isn’t home for din­ner, we have cereal and toast, or pancakes…I remem­ber my mom doing the same thing.
    I had no clue about Betty Crocker…it’s kind of shocking!

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 31, 2012, 7:15 PM

      It is shock­ing, isn’t it! My Mom always served Trix when we were home alone!

  • Laura@Catharsisdo

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 7:14 PM

    I don’t have this prob­lem. I don’t cook. Why do i do THAT? I don’t think any of those women names, like Betty Crocker, Marie Cal­en­der, etc. are real. isn’t it reprehensible???

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 31, 2012, 7:14 PM

      I’m just mad I let a mar­ket­ing scheme rule my cook­ing brain for so long!!

  • melinda

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 6:31 PM

    All I got from this post is you’re away — for 4 days — 3 of which are with me. VEGAS babyyyyy!!!! Can’t wait to see u! Xx

  • Trish

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 4:02 PM

    How true, how true. When Sweet Hubs isn’t home, I eat com­pletely dif­fer­ently. But I DO like to hurry and get the house shin­ing so I can enjoy it. It stays that way until he gets home. I am sure this is coincidence.

    Stop­ping by from Yeah Write.… loved your post!
    http://contemplatinghappiness.blogspot.com/2012/01/conundrum.html

  • Mommy2¢

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:56 PM

    OMSuper-​​Wife! I am NOT let­ting my hubs read this post!… EVER! You are waaayyy bet­ter at play­ing the house­wife role than I am. Geesh!

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:58 PM

      Maybe but this Super wife is ditch­ing her fam­ily for 4 days to go drink (a lot) of wine and gam­ble our sav­ings away. It’s a give and take house around here! HAHA!

      • Mommy2¢

        Replied on: January 25, 2012, 3:04 PM

        Sweet! Where are you going?

  • Jenn@Fox in the City

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:30 PM

    Hum, I find the whole fig­ur­ing out what to make for din­ner thing very tedious. We have done a meal plan before and it works … for a time.
    As for cook­ing, both my hus­band and I work out­side of the home so we totally share that duty. It is nice because there is no pres­sure on either one of us to come up with some great meal … sim­ple and easy it is.
    Total aside, but I LOVE cereal for din­ner … or lunch … and of course breakfast.

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:57 PM

      You can make cereal a meal any­time of the day! As a lit­tle girl I used to love to watch Star Search on Sat­ur­day nights with a BIG bowl of Raisin Bran, an extra spoon of sugar of course!

  • Kristen

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 1:41 PM

    Thought I was the only one! When he’s gone, its pasta with some but­ter and cheese, on the couch, watch­ing a trashy tv show :)

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:56 PM

      Sounds dreamy!

  • Erica M

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 1:34 PM

    Wait…four full days and nights? Where? Why? How? Can I come? Please?

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:55 PM

      I’m leav­ing on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again… San Diego for some wine, then Vegas to lose my money and my mind. Of course you can come… the gin is “free” at the casinos!

  • deborah l quinn

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 10:32 AM

    Nei­ther is Car­olyn Keene (Nancy Drew lady). I know that b/​c I’ve got friends who have writ­ten Nancy Drew mys­ter­ies. I DO THE SAME THING??? WTF hard-​​wired non­sense is this, that because daddy is home there needs to be meat-​​and-​​veg or the equiv­a­lent? Dude, if you want more than cheese-​​and-​​crackers for sup­per, that big square thing over there? That’s the stove. But despite these brave words, I too stock the kitchen before I leave (as if they’re going to go all Don­ner party on me?)…and tell my fem­i­nist inner god­dess to just shut up it’s eas­ier this way. Sigh. Betty Friedan would smack me with a fry­ing pan.

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:54 PM

      I don’t think Betty Crocker was based on Betty Friedan, agree?! Ha! Maybe when we leave and the fridge is stocked we can at least feel like we tried?? I blame it on the easy-​​bake oven.

  • Ado

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 10:21 AM

    You are so good. Babe is lucky.
    PS: BETTY CROCKER IS NOT A REAL PERSON? OMG!

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:52 PM

      I KNOW!!! I was SHOCKED!

  • Alison@Mama Wants This

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 9:08 AM

    When my hus­band tells me he can’t make it home for din­ner, I’m actu­ally relieve, because it means I can just whip up some­thing easy. #WifeFail?

    So you’re not alone!!

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:52 PM

      It’s so much more fun not being alone!

  • Andrea @ The Penny-Roach's

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 7:56 AM

    I also feel like my entire day is based around food. Either plan­ning, cook­ing, or clean­ing. I need a maid!

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:51 PM

      When you wish upon a star… I’m still look­ing for the glass slipper!

  • LUM

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 7:55 AM

    I love cereal for din­ner! You and I had that a lot while wait­ing for your sis­ter to join our family!

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:51 PM

      But I’m bet­ting you’ve never had cereal for din­ner when Paka was home!! And I’m SURE my kids have never had Trix, hell I can’t get JJ to even try it!

  • Ali

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 3:22 AM

    Yes com­pletely. If SK is out it’s cereal all round for dinner!

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:50 PM

      Ha! Love it! And he would be totally fine with cereal for din­ner if he were home, yes?!?

  • Mama and the City

    Replied on: January 25, 2012, 1:32 AM

    1. I was won­der­ing the whole cook­ing thing. I remem­ber you not being the kind of “too com­pli­cated” “too chaotic” cook­ing. Hence, I thought you will take the first chance to pass on the task. LOL. Good for you to cook some­thing proper.

    2. When and where are you going for that long? I bet he would be fine, but yes, stock away those freezers!

    3. Betty Crooker, not real? it should have been the first pic­ture I am sure. I mean, was out of someone’s dream or imag­i­na­tion? I would have thought at least someone’s mom.

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:50 PM

      1 — I try to cook, just noth­ing that requires more than 10 ingre­di­ents and 5 steps! Ha!
      2 — I’m going to San Diego and Vegas!!! Yippeee!!!!
      3 — I KNOW!!!

  • Greta Funk

    Replied on: January 24, 2012, 10:47 PM

    I know exactly what you mean. Before this whole dairy-​​free thing started, our go-​​to meal when daddy was gone was frozen pizza and pop­corn. When he’s here, it’s almost always a real meal. For real–why?

    • Jamie

      Replied on: January 25, 2012, 2:48 PM

      For real… I’m curi­ous to see what Babe says when he reads this!