We make our weeknight dinners on weeknights. That's where you're going wrong.

Anonymous wrote:My unmarried, child-free little sister is binging The Offer today in her pristine downtown apartment with delivered breakfast food (my favorite) and I’m so jealous, I could cry!

Yes, those days are gone and I’m in much the same situation as you, OP. When my kids are in high school I’m getting those Sundays back!!

And, she won't have to worry about her kids growing up post collapse, or be contributing to it. Win-win for your sister!

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Anonymous wrote:This whole thread feels like a SNL skit. I’m a single mother and do all of that by myself. And I also find time to just unwind with a glass of wine and a movie.

It’s easier being a single mother, PP. Honestly. Your idea of cleaning standards and nutritional standards are your own. You have no other equal adult to compromise with. I could eat and serve scrambled eggs for dinner but DH needs a full balanced, vegetarian meal. I could live with crumbs on the floor but DH has to vacuum daily. There are a million things that I would let slide without DH.

+1. This really is true. Without the commitment of marriage and another relationship to tend to, I would have a lot more time!

+2. Thank you! I am so sick of the single mother whine. Being married and in a healthy relationship takes work, planning, and commitment. I could eat cold cereal for dinner and be happy with the quiet after the kids are in bed.

Jerk post. Imagine having zero breaks from childcare and being able to outsource nothing.

I did it, idiot, for six months when DH was deployed and it was absolutely easier. And I didn’t need the wine or the whine!

Dirty little secret the military wives don’t want anyone to know. It’s not so hard after all.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread feels like a SNL skit. I’m a single mother and do all of that by myself. And I also find time to just unwind with a glass of wine and a movie.

It’s easier being a single mother, PP. Honestly. Your idea of cleaning standards and nutritional standards are your own. You have no other equal adult to compromise with. I could eat and serve scrambled eggs for dinner but DH needs a full balanced, vegetarian meal. I could live with crumbs on the floor but DH has to vacuum daily. There are a million things that I would let slide without DH.

+1. This really is true. Without the commitment of marriage and another relationship to tend to, I would have a lot more time!

+2. Thank you! I am so sick of the single mother whine. Being married and in a healthy relationship takes work, planning, and commitment. I could eat cold cereal for dinner and be happy with the quiet after the kids are in bed.

Jerk post. Imagine having zero breaks from childcare and being able to outsource nothing.

I did it, idiot, for six months when DH was deployed and it was absolutely easier. And I didn’t need the wine or the whine!

I did it for 6 years, moron. It was in no way easy than having him around as an equal partner. Ever.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread feels like a SNL skit. I’m a single mother and do all of that by myself. And I also find time to just unwind with a glass of wine and a movie.

It’s easier being a single mother, PP. Honestly. Your idea of cleaning standards and nutritional standards are your own. You have no other equal adult to compromise with. I could eat and serve scrambled eggs for dinner but DH needs a full balanced, vegetarian meal. I could live with crumbs on the floor but DH has to vacuum daily. There are a million things that I would let slide without DH.

+1. This really is true. Without the commitment of marriage and another relationship to tend to, I would have a lot more time!

+2. Thank you! I am so sick of the single mother whine. Being married and in a healthy relationship takes work, planning, and commitment. I could eat cold cereal for dinner and be happy with the quiet after the kids are in bed.

Jerk post. Imagine having zero breaks from childcare and being able to outsource nothing.

I did it, idiot, for six months when DH was deployed and it was absolutely easier. And I didn’t need the wine or the whine!

Thank you!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My unmarried, child-free little sister is binging The Offer today in her pristine downtown apartment with delivered breakfast food (my favorite) and I’m so jealous, I could cry!

Yes, those days are gone and I’m in much the same situation as you, OP. When my kids are in high school I’m getting those Sundays back!!

Hahaha no you aren’t. Different, bigger things to worry about, so not the care and feeding items, but that does NOT mean stress free lazy Sundays. At all. Especially if your kids are in any sports. Just warning you! Care for children does not end until they leave the nest.

Good point. Okay, the instant the last one leaves for college, I am parking my butt on the couch and spending Sundays in front of the TV (which will be amazing in 16 years).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread feels like a SNL skit. I’m a single mother and do all of that by myself. And I also find time to just unwind with a glass of wine and a movie.

It’s easier being a single mother, PP. Honestly. Your idea of cleaning standards and nutritional standards are your own. You have no other equal adult to compromise with. I could eat and serve scrambled eggs for dinner but DH needs a full balanced, vegetarian meal. I could live with crumbs on the floor but DH has to vacuum daily. There are a million things that I would let slide without DH.

+1. This really is true. Without the commitment of marriage and another relationship to tend to, I would have a lot more time!

+2. Thank you! I am so sick of the single mother whine. Being married and in a healthy relationship takes work, planning, and commitment. I could eat cold cereal for dinner and be happy with the quiet after the kids are in bed.

Jerk post. Imagine having zero breaks from childcare and being able to outsource nothing.

I did it, idiot, for six months when DH was deployed and it was absolutely easier. And I didn’t need the wine or the whine!

Agree with doing grocery delivery or pick-up. Order pantry items from an online store like Amazon Pantry, Thrive Market or Vitacost.

I also love supporting farmers markets, but it does take up time. Now I have a CSA share from May to October that I can pick up near my house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread feels like a SNL skit. I’m a single mother and do all of that by myself. And I also find time to just unwind with a glass of wine and a movie.

It’s easier being a single mother, PP. Honestly. Your idea of cleaning standards and nutritional standards are your own. You have no other equal adult to compromise with. I could eat and serve scrambled eggs for dinner but DH needs a full balanced, vegetarian meal. I could live with crumbs on the floor but DH has to vacuum daily. There are a million things that I would let slide without DH.

+1. This really is true. Without the commitment of marriage and another relationship to tend to, I would have a lot more time!

+2. Thank you! I am so sick of the single mother whine. Being married and in a healthy relationship takes work, planning, and commitment. I could eat cold cereal for dinner and be happy with the quiet after the kids are in bed.

Jerk post. Imagine having zero breaks from childcare and being able to outsource nothing.

Anonymous wrote:My unmarried, child-free little sister is binging The Offer today in her pristine downtown apartment with delivered breakfast food (my favorite) and I’m so jealous, I could cry!

Yes, those days are gone and I’m in much the same situation as you, OP. When my kids are in high school I’m getting those Sundays back!!

Hahaha no you aren’t. Different, bigger things to worry about, so not the care and feeding items, but that does NOT mean stress free lazy Sundays. At all. Especially if your kids are in any sports. Just warning you! Care for children does not end until they leave the nest.

I have a friend who makes freezer meals one Sunday a month. You would obviously need enough freezer space for this. She pulls from those throughout the month, mixed in with nights where she cooks quick, easy meals, or eats leftovers. There are lots of meal plans with shopping lists on Pinterest for making freezer meals in bulk.

You could do a monthly freezer meal swap with friends/neighbors. You each make a large quantity of one recipe and everyone goes home with a bunch of different meals. If you have allergies at home I see how that could be difficult, though.

I do a lot of slow cooker/Instant Pot meals. Some people hate the texture and yes, sometimes it feels monotonous, but it saves my sanity. I prep a few days’ worth at once in ziploc bags so I can dump and go.

Another friend splits dinner prep with DH and they do it before work. Usually something that the nanny can pop straight in the oven.

Stop going to the grocery store. It is very worth it to get groceries delivered, it will free up a lot of your time.

Don't get a pizza. Get TWO pizzas. Then you have solved tomorrow night as well.

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Anonymous wrote:I could have written your post, OP. I am in the middle of preparing dinners for this coming week too. It sucks. I used to love cooking, too.

While the suggestions given are good, I have two issues: first, we’re vegetarian and vegetarian food isn’t that easy. Second, we have limited freezer space and no room to put a deep freezer in our city condo! I could add a third which is that my young kids are still picky eaters.

I do dread Sundays now but am so happy when I come home from work and just pop a dish in the oven while my toddler and I make a salad while I’m wearing my baby. We sit down to eat while everyone is still in a good mood and DH does clean up so I can nurse and read to my kids in peace.

+1. Being a healthy vegetarian and keeping kids healthy is a lot more work. Canned baked beans and hot dogs don’t cut it.

Are you making Sunday dinner, too? That one I’d cut out. On Sundays we make omelettes.

OP is not the vegetarian.

Bottom line, OP, take a hard look at your efficiency in the kitchen and I'm sure you can cut your prep time quite a bit. There are knife skills videos on youtube that will really speed you up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread feels like a SNL skit. I’m a single mother and do all of that by myself. And I also find time to just unwind with a glass of wine and a movie.

It’s easier being a single mother, PP. Honestly. Your idea of cleaning standards and nutritional standards are your own. You have no other equal adult to compromise with. I could eat and serve scrambled eggs for dinner but DH needs a full balanced, vegetarian meal. I could live with crumbs on the floor but DH has to vacuum daily. There are a million things that I would let slide without DH.

+1. This really is true. Without the commitment of marriage and another relationship to tend to, I would have a lot more time!

+2. Thank you! I am so sick of the single mother whine. Being married and in a healthy relationship takes work, planning, and commitment. I could eat cold cereal for dinner and be happy with the quiet after the kids are in bed.

+3.

Anonymous wrote:I could have written your post, OP. I am in the middle of preparing dinners for this coming week too. It sucks. I used to love cooking, too.

While the suggestions given are good, I have two issues: first, we’re vegetarian and vegetarian food isn’t that easy. Second, we have limited freezer space and no room to put a deep freezer in our city condo! I could add a third which is that my young kids are still picky eaters.

I do dread Sundays now but am so happy when I come home from work and just pop a dish in the oven while my toddler and I make a salad while I’m wearing my baby. We sit down to eat while everyone is still in a good mood and DH does clean up so I can nurse and read to my kids in peace.

+1. Being a healthy vegetarian and keeping kids healthy is a lot more work. Canned baked beans and hot dogs don’t cut it.

Are you making Sunday dinner, too? That one I’d cut out. On Sundays we make omelettes.