I was turning into a crazy person because of dinner time in our house. Seriously if changes were not made the DH just might have been calling in those nice folks in white coats!
Now on the nights the husband is home I would usually cook and we sit down for a "family meal". Now this all sounds great and your probably wondering what could be so bad. To hear may even make one jealous but to see it, it's quite a different story. Here's a little breakdown of our meal:
- I find recipe, prepare food and cook said recipe.
- I get the kids their plates making sure food is not hot.
- I put our little one in the highchair and call our son over to the table.
- The entire time I'm getting the kids' food ready the DH is hovering over my shoulder waiting for me to get out of the way long enough to get his food.
- Husband finally gets enough room to make plate and sits down to eat.
- I, foolishly thinking everyone has what they need, get around to making my plate and proceed to put ass in chair.
- Before I even have my first bite our 4 year old is screaming about how he needs milk, napkin, pepper and whatever else he deems urgent!
- Now the little has decided that she needs her drink NOW.
- DH continues to eat, by now about to finish his dinner (it takes him 5 mins flat to eat).
- I answer all requests and think everyone is good.
- Ass back in chair.
- DH is done and gets up to go sit on couch and watch tv.
- Round 2 of requests occur, DH makes no move to help.
- I answer those requests, go back to sit down just in time to get the "all done" sign. This "all done" sign means you have about 3 milliseconds to get anything off of her tray or it's being chucked across the room.
- Get her cleared away, wiped off and put down to go play.
- Our son is now done so I get him cleared up and he goes off to burn more brain cells watching SpongeBob.
- I FINALLY get the chance to sit down and eat my cold dinner....ALONE.
- I managed to get down enough to fulfill me for the moment and then it's time to move on to bedtime crazy.
So as you can "see", it may sound nice but it is far from it. I had just finished reading In Defense of Food and Food Matters where they mention that it goes beyond food but also to the experience of eating and the DH had just gotten over a stomach bug and finally had a breakthrough. At that point the stars aligned and we actually were all willing to make changes. The DH had stated one night while sick that "it's like a chore to eat right now. This is how you must feel all the time". I. ABOUT. DIED. He finally, actually gets it!
Since then things have gotten so much better. I make the kids plates and get drinks all set. I set it to cool while I make mine and then we all sit down at the same time. I then ask if anything else is needed and repeat that I will not be getting back up so you should ask now if there is anything. Once I sit I'm done and have actually been able to eat hot meals TOGETHER! Since the DH eats so quickly he has been the one to fill in some requests that trickle in at the end. The first time this happened I didn't know what to do, our son wanted pepper so I started to get up to get it and my husband said "sit back down, I'll get it"!!
Our meals have been so nice lately, and dare I say it, enjoyable. Everyone is much calmer and we all talk while eating. The DH sticks around a while after he finishes eating and the tv doesn't go back on until everyone is done. This may be coincidence but my son has even been eating more of what I make and doesn't complain when I make him try something. We are finally having FAMILY meals and it's great! Once my husband goes back out to sea hopefully this will be instilled enough that we'll keep it up and still have nice family meals together, without the kids expecting me to jump at every request.
And on that note enjoy some time with family and friends tomorrow and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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