STM/TTM: What is dinner time like at your house?

Airynn Chica · February 2014

DH is at work until DD1's bathtime. DD1 lies on the kitchen floor while I cook and cries because she wants to be held. Its so sad, but also I can't very well cut up veggies/meat and hold her at the same time and using a chair next to me doesn't make her happy. I have even tried having her on my back but that also doesn't work. (Secretly hoping when my rings arrive and I make a ringsling it will satisfy her)

What do you do?

Ashleypixie · February 2014

Fast food at 8pm. I don't like stress.

*sparky* · February 2014

My DS is older now, so he can work on homework or watch tv while I am cooking. I am in the same boat as you in that DH does not get home until later. When DS was younger, I would either make something really simple and quick, do all the prep for the following night's dinner after DS went to bed, or give him something quick and easy and DH and I would make and eat our dinner after he got home (often after DS went to bed). If DS was happy watching a little Baby Einstein video or just hanging out in the kitchen playing with tupperware, etc. then making dinner was pretty easy. On nights he was not happy with that, it just did not get done until later.

Can you do any prep the night before so when you are there on your own with your LO you just have to throw something in the oven or on the stove? Or can you find something to entertain DD while you do some prepping? Do you work or SAH? My friends who SAH do the major dinner prepping while the kiddos are napping in the afternoon if they have LOs.

Rrrrrachel · February 2014

It got easier after awhile, maybe right around two? I cook much simpler things than I used to, I prep stuff ahead as much as possible, and I use the tv.

AcaAwkward · February 2014

DD eats dinner around 5:30 or 6 and she basically eats leftovers from our dinner the night before. DH usually gets home to help with bath and bedtime (bed at 7-7:30). I don't cook our dinner until DD is asleep so we won't eat until later - around 8. If the meal involves a lot of prep, I'll do it while DD naps.

ksulli · February 2014

What if you give her things to 'help' you cook? A bowl and wooden spoon so she can help stirring (a bowl full of nothing). DD often now runs off to her play kitchen to cook while we do real cooking.

Airynn Chica · February 2014

So nice to hear your experiences.

I am a teacher so I come home around 4--today it was 5. Usually DD is asleep and I try and prep/cook before she wakes up--pregnancy has meant a lack of energy though.

I could try making her something separate so she eats while I cook or giving her leftovers from the night before. That's a great idea!

Playing in the cabinets or pretending to cook works during weekend breakfasts, but I think by the evening she has missed me the whole day and all she wants is UP!

momofmanyinthemitten · February 2014

I do most of my meal prep when DS is napping, whether it's in the morning (as the case has been for the past week) or afternoon. DD is great at entertaining herself. Sometimes I will put a cartoon on at 4 when I have to get stuff in the oven, etc. DS eats Cheerios in the kitchen while watching me do the finishing touches. He's a big eater, so a small cereal snack doesn't come close to spoiling his dinner. We eat between 5:15 and 5:45, which is usually when DH gets home. For the record, 5:00 is generally a huge crankfest, as both DS and DD are tired and hungry. I just roll with it as best as I can.

AcaAwkward · February 2014

poru said:
Two words from a working mama: SLOW COOKER!

On nights DH won't be home until bedtime routine, I make DS a separate dinner and then we eat dinner when DS goes to bed (8ish), and one of us cooks while the other puts DS down. On nights we can all eat together then I rely on the slow cooker, or pre-prepared ingredients, and DS usually plays with his ipad while I cook if he isn't interested in helping me cook (half the time) -- those nights dinners have to be made rachel ray style in under 20 minutes cause DS and I don't get home from daycare pickup until 5:45-6.

I have a friend with a couple of kids a bit older (5-8) who puts out veggies and hummus on the table when she gets home and starts cooking. That way the kids can start eating. Because usually they are grumpy that hour because its late and they are hungry. Then she doesn't have to try so hard to make the dinner veggie rich and the kids are occupied.

Totally remembering that veggie & hummus idea for the future! Genius

Twirple · February 2014

DS is 2.5 and he "helps" me cook. If I'm baking, I will measure the ingredients and he will add them to the bowl. When I'm chopping vegetables, I'll stop periodically so that he can put the freshly chopped veggies in the bowl. I'll use a ramekin for spices, I measure them, and he will dump them into the ramekin. If I'm cooking with canned goods, I'll take the lids off and drain off any liquid (if necessary) and he will add them to the bowl or cold pot before I put it on the stove. If the pot is already hot, he will hand me the cans.

He loves to tell Daddy that "Mommy and I made chili!"

Rrrrrachel · February 2014

Yeah that's a great idea! Veggie sticks with any kind of dip really appeal to my daughter. I just don't like slow cooker food. I know that makes me a weirdo. There is a really good cook book called "not your mamas slow cooker cook book" that has some stuff I like,and it's not big on cans of stuff, which I like.

Airynn Chica · February 2014

I think I should invest in a slow cooker! I have one in the USA and love it, but I don't have one here.

I also think I still cook like I'm single or newly married (dinner takes me 1-1.5hrs from start to finish)

homediva · February 2014

I keep things simple - a carb, a veg, and a meat. I start at 4 and it's ready for 5. My husband is rarely, if ever, home for dinner (we have a 2.5 year old). My motto is "cook once, eat often" so I often make 2 nights worth. Slow cooker is a Godsend and I usually just use it for meat. I plan to freeze some meals I can dump in the slow cooker. While I cook, my son either plays in the playroom, does art in his high chair, "helps," and usually watches Paw Patrol from 4:30-5!
ETA I often make dinner during nap time too.

Teresa1896 · February 2014

ksulli said:

What if you give her things to 'help' you cook? A bowl and wooden spoon so she can help stirring (a bowl full of nothing). DD often now runs off to her play kitchen to cook while we do real cooking.

This. Dd loves to "help," so I give her measuring spoons, cheese grater, or her play food and play knife to chop. Or I tell her that her job is to taste everything. She loves getting her stool and bringing it into the kitchen. I love cooking and can't wait until she can be more helpful! Dinner itself, on the other hand, involves her usually refusing to try anything new, us trying not to get into a power struggle over it (not offering her alternative meals, usually we give her at least one thing she likes), yelling at her to keep her feet off the table, and eventual tears for her.

fourthnlast · February 2014

My kids are 11, 9 and 6 so I have to admit, I'm pretty spoiled in that they do their own thing and I just call them when dinner is done. It's been a long time since I've had a newborn/toddler in the house, I really don't remember how we survived...we just did.

kwolslager · February 2014

My girls are 4 and 15 months. My 4 yr old begs me to let her help, so I always did something for her to help me with. And my 15 month old hangs out in the kitchen with us, usually I give her extra veggies or ingredients I'm using for her to keep occupied until it's time to sit and eat. Her favorites are cauliflower and bell peppers!

nstecklein · February 2014

Typically I get home with ds around 5 or 530. Dh could be there or not show up until 8. I will usually throw something together while ds either watches tv with the two year old or he comes in the kitchen every two minutes insisting that I be 'Kercy' while he is Thomas, or I have to be the big 'kidloader'' and help him scoop manure. I go in and play with ds during the in between time during prep waiting for burger to brown, water to boil etc. we try to eat as a family as often as possible as it is really important to my husband and myself that we do that. We also have a lot of family dinners at his parents or one of his sisters. That is usually 1-2. Nights in the week. It's nice to get a night off! It is so interesting to hear everyone's supper rituals. Fifty years ago they probably all would have looked very similar.

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