When helping is really adding more to Mum's load
In recent times, Steve has decided that he can cook dinner.
He manages to cook for himself while he's away at work, so I have long begged him to give it a go at home.
His response is always "cooking for five is harder than cooking for one"
(Welcome to my life)
At the start of last month, while he was on a home stint, he told Natalie she should cook dinner, then asked me what she could cook.
I told him it was none of my business what was cooked, that for one meal I didn't want to have to think of who was eating what, when.
In the end, Steve hunted out the recipe, made sure all the ingredients were available, and after a fit of teen temper, cooked the whole meal.
(Guess there's always a first time for everything)
He dished up, everyone ate (some even coming back for seconds) and his job was done.
Only then was I able to start my job.
Putting away the clean dishes.
Stacking the dishwasher.
Wiping down the benches.
All the things I would usually do before I start cooking.
And then there's loading the dishwasher, putting away the leftovers, washing any pots used.
And because the job of cooking was done, the family was also done.
To this day, I don't think any of them have even considered who did those little things after the meal.
And so I wish to tell my family -
Clean up your bloody mess!
Signed, a frustrated mum who does more than cooking when cooking dinner.
What I'm reading - The Unbelieved, Vikki Petraitis
What I'm listening to - a fun Christmas playlist
What I'm baking - Spice Cookies for their nostalgia and tastiness
What I'm creating - it's December Daily/Journal Your Christmas time of year, so I'm making notes and taking photos every day.
Oh yes, there's so much 'behind the scenes' work that happens before and after you sit down to eat! Nice to see you back blogging again :-)
ReplyDeleteOh gosh I wish I could relate to this my 5 and 1 year old are years away from cooking dinner. I'll add clean up to the list of things involved in doing dinner one night!
ReplyDeleteOh how I feel this! I'm trying to get my teen to take on more tasks and they tell me they don't feel like, or don't want to. The amount of times I've had to explain that I really don't want to load and unload the dishwasher, cook dinner, hang the washing, vacuum the house is endless. I'm lucky my partner cooks on the weekend cause I work weekends, but yeah, they cook. I still have to clean up the mess.
ReplyDelete