Can we please step out of the kitchen for a moment?
I remember as a little girl, I loved playing “waitress.” I’d don an apron, stroll around the house with a notepad, and take imaginary food orders. I spent hours in the kitchen whipping up meals for my siblings and stuffed animals alike. What bliss it was to serve others right from my own little domain!
Fast forward to today, and I find myself in a less-than-ideal version of that dream. For the past two decades, I’ve been catering to a multitude of appetites, and I’ve probably worn a permanent groove in my kitchen floor from the fridge to the pantry and back again. The irony is not lost on me, especially since my eager diners keep coming back for more.
Can’t a mom/waitress catch a break? Seriously, can you all just vacate the kitchen for a minute? You just ate like five minutes ago for the fifth time today!
If your household is anything like mine, the kitchen is basically always open. It’s a never-ending cycle of meal prep, cooking, and cleanup, only to start the whole process over again.
I don’t recall having the luxury of constant kitchen access as a kid. My mom rarely prepared meals beyond dinner, and those were usually from a box with “Helper” in the title, taking her all of ten minutes to whip up. We were in and out in five minutes, and we stayed out.
As for healthy snacks? Back in my day, a healthy option was a box of raisins, and we were told to come back when the streetlights turned on for TV dinners. We managed just fine, playing outside and never lingering in the kitchen. But today’s kids seem to have a different idea. When they’re not eating, they’re rummaging through cabinets looking for something to snack on or opening a new bag of chips while three others are already half-open. Seriously?
My kids have moved way beyond babyproofing; they’re now in the “raccoon stage.” I go to bed with a spotless kitchen, only to wake up to what looks like a wild party took place overnight. This phase is what I like to call “living with teens and their insatiable appetites.”
These kids are never full, like bears emerging from hibernation, always on the hunt for food. I’ve even resorted to hiding snacks in my home. Who does that? The same mom who spends $800 at Costco only to hear two days later, “Mom, we have nothing to eat.”
Nope, I’ve got those kids on rations now. Looking for chips? Sorry, they’re hidden in the back of my closet. Granola bars? Nope, they’re in a tampon box under the sink. Fudge ice cream bars? Check the box of frozen kale. Get the idea? Now, please, get out of my kitchen!
Every time a sweet lady reminds me that I’ll miss this someday, I can’t help but daydream about a clean kitchen, empty most of the time. Just imagine a life with “sandwich night” five days a week and two kid-free date nights.
I won’t miss those hefty grocery bills or my unintentional roles as a waitress, sous chef, or dishwasher. Who knows? I might just convert the kitchen into a shoe closet once the kids are out!
For more insights into this parenting journey, check out this post on our other blog here. And if you’re looking for resources on your own fertility journey, Make A Mom is a great authority on the topic, while UCSF’s Center offers excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, navigating the chaotic kitchen life with kids can be exhausting but also brings a unique set of challenges and memories. From constant snacking to hiding treats, every day is an adventure in parenting.