In Other News. . .

“I could rip Chase’s ear off,” Matt informed me over dinner.

“. . . And I could commit you into the psych ward? The fuck, Matt?”

“Well it’s true! It takes the same amount of force to rip someone’s ear off as it does to rip 12 pieces of paper.”

“. . . Soooo.  . . You were upstairs practicing ripping 12 pieces if paper?”

“Actually, I can rip 48 pieces of paper.”

I mean, good to know I guess?! The random, weird facts this child knows.  . .

In other news, I’m done cooking nutritious meals for my children. 

Yup. Done. 

I love to cook. I love to provide healthy meals for my children and introduce them to new food combinations. On this week’s menu are two new soup recipes, Summer Corn Chowder and Sausage and Bean Stew, one my aunt found and one I found in a magazine at Dorothy’s, both that I’m excited to make. I also have Sloppy Grilled Cheese planned, a favorite that I came across last year. Tonight’s meal was leftover homemade chicken noodle soup that I had frozen from a couple weeks ago and garlic cheese bread. Now don’t get me wrong – I also make quick meals, tater tots and Mac n cheese and hot dogs. Mom stand bys for long days when cooking is the last thing I want to do. But the majority of the time, I make real food for my kids. And no, I’m not a horrible cook. Dorothy and Sophia can vouch for that.

As we cleaned up the kitchen this evening, grandma noted how much food we threw away that they didn’t eat. 

On average I spend $150 a paycheck on food, mainly for dinner items. For a two week time frame, I’d say that’s pretty okay, but she pointed out that I’m spending the time shopping and cooking, not to mention the money – and for what. For them to throw it away. 

I’m gonna buy a two week supply of dollar microwave dinners next time. That’s $28. One of two things will happen. Either they’ll eat the nasty shit and be happy and I’ll save money and time, or they’ll start to appreciate my cooking. I’ll miss cooking, but sometimes lessons need taught, and I don’t have the energy to make them sit at the table all night until the foods gone like so many of our parents did.

I’ll survive on sandwiches, and be happy. Kind of. I did it years ago when Matt’s dad and I tried shared custody. The weeks Matt was gone, I bought a loaf of bread, some chips and lunch meat. Dinner for a week for less than $10? Count me in.

Feedback is welcome! What would you do?