Any solutions on making the evenings alot less stressful?????? - Parenting Issues Message Board

mommieof2girls · 10-01-2003, 10:41 PM

I'm not sure if I'm the only one with this problem but does anyone have trouble with the evenings being way to rushed? I mean we get home from work and picking up the kids and right away we have to rush to eat, or go out to eat, then help the first grader do homework then it's shower time and then we try to fit in some playing time. This is all within a two and a half hour period. My hubby and I feel so stressed and not organized.
'
I don't know how to make the evenings run more smoothly, especially around dinner time because I hate to cook and I don't know how to cook fast meals. I mean I'm definately not a cook, so what do mommies do that have that problem? Plus, my hubby isnt' a cook either so were really screwed.

NOt only are our evenings rushed and unplanned we spend too much money on eating out because we don't plan for dinner. We want to get more organized and save more money. Please any ideas would be great, and please anybody, respond to this post.....I"m soooooo desperate.

Thanks

Suzie

LinseyM · 10-01-2003, 11:03 PM

I am not a parent, but I still really feel for you sweetie!

My best friend has this. Between school, work, baseball practice, church and friends it just gets plain hectic. And now it is getting darker earlier and you feel like you are only loosing time. This is what she does and perhaps you can try it. It has been doing it for some time and she has gotten quite good at it. I am so proud of her.

On Sundays, she gets up and goes to church. After church, as a family they go out to lunch at somewhere inexpensive. When they get home they do some type of family activity...watching a movie together, going to the park, playing in the back yard, sometimes they just all take a nap in the same bed! Once they do that, she escapes to the kitchen and makes a menu for the week. Then she makes her list, clips coupons from Sunday's paper and then goes shopping at the store. While she is gone, her husband has to fix dinner for the family. Nothing fancy, just mac and cheese and hotdogs or something very simple. (can't expect too much out of him! ha ha ) Then she comes home and prepares the food for the week. She puts together casseroles and then puts them in the fridge, divides meat and makes patties for hamburgers, etc. One day a week she uses her crock pot so in the morning, she just puts her meat in the crock pot in the morning and leaves it on low all day. All the while her husband is responsible for the kids. Then, organize the fridge. I know this sounds kind of silly, but she keeps all the stuff together for each day. Then it is right there ready to take out. For salads, use the bagged stuff. If you don't like that, make the salad on Sunday, put it in a freezer bag and then throw it in the crisper drawer. Then when you are ready to use, just dump in a drawer. Prepare for 4 meals. That isn't too bad. Plan on going out one time. You have to give yourself a break at least one day! Also, organize your pantry the same way you do your fridge. The night before each meal, pull out the things you need for the next day from the pantry. Leave it on the counter. Urge your husband to help you get on the internet and search for good recipes. That is one great thing...you really don't need cookbooks anymore because you can find plenty of stuff on the net. If he gets home first, all he has to do is put the casserole in the fridge or finish preparing what you have done. Do you think this could help? I think maybe just organizing yourself would help a lot. (who am i to talk? I am sooo unorganized!!) My mother in law kind of does the same thing with the whole menu thing for the week. She leaves it on the fridge so everyone knows what to expect to eat that night. You might think...this girl is crazy! Parents could never do this! And you may be right!

I am just suggesting it and if you do happen to try it...let me know how it works! Good luck to you and keep us updated!

LinseyM · 10-01-2003, 11:05 PM

I meant to dump the salad in a bowl, not a drawer above. I know you probably knew what I meant. Oooops.

hope2663 · 10-03-2003, 08:46 PM

I would suggest making a list of dinners for the week. Everyone could pick out something that they would like to have that week so you wouldnt have to do all of the planning. Throwing a roast in crock with potatoes and carrots is easy if you have time to do it in the morning, or you could make the roast into poor boy sandwhiches or barbeque and then you just add the barbeque sauce it or if you go with the roast and the next night you could make it into vegtable soup and that only takes about 15-20 minutes and all you have to do is add canned vegtables and a large can of tomato juice. Also, I dont know if you have a George Forman grill, but I love mine. You can make chicken, pork chops, bacon, sausage, fish, the list really goes on and on and you can have a really nice supper within 15 minutes, makes suppers very quickly. ( I love pork chops with Lowrys on the George grill) BLT's can also be made very quickly, just pop the bacon on your George Forman or your microwave and pop the bread in the toaster and throw some fries in the oven and that can be made it about 15minutes also. I think every mother feels rushed at night time, I swear if I could afford a personal chef and a personal house keeper, I would be the happiest mom around!!

jboon · 10-04-2003, 10:42 PM

Many grocery stores are now like carry-out restaurants. If you don't have the time to cook, you can get most main courses already prepared. Add salad and some vegetables (frozen or canned) and you have a meal in about 15 minutes.