I got an email from a friend and reader recently. She’d seen a blog post on another site that asked “How many nights a week do your kids eat the same things as you do?”
All of the comments were along the lines of “7 days a week”, “I’m not a short-order cook.”
She wrote:
I think eating dinner as a family is important, but OBVIOUSLY it’s not as high a priority for me since I’m not making it happen like these women. I try to eat at least 3 dinners a week together as a family, but I’m no where near 7. BUT, let me offer some reasons:
1. I typically feed the kids right when we get home from daycare (5:30 or 6pm) so I can get them to practices or we’re ready to tackle homework etc. They go to bed at 8:15, so I’m working within about a 2-hour window to get everything done. I know, I can use my crock pot to get things done, and do. . .BUT. ..I know some people would say, you shouldn’t have them in extracurricular activities at 5 and 7, etc.
2. My husband and I have been working out. I go at 5am in the morning, but he has been going in the evenings about 3 times during the week. I think exercising is really important, and I don’t want to mess around with his schedule. Again, something else we have going on in the evenings.
3. I’m an involved parent in the kids’ school and often have volunteer meetings on the weekday evenings. Therefore, again, I’m trying to get home, get the kids squared away (fed, homework, etc.) so I’m ready to go to my meeting. This is not an EVERY-night thing, but some weeks are more hectic than others.
4. I consider it a win if I get my kids to eat SOMETHING healthy. I know, this isn’t mutually exclusive of COOKING dinner for the entire family, but if my kids will eat turkey slices, carrots, and applesauce without complaint and I don’t feel like eating that. . .somehow I feel it’s better for the family dynamic than the battles at dinner and at least they’re consuming healthy stuff.
Reading all of those posts about women never having their kids eat something different really made me feel sh*&Ty! I CANNOT be the only one with these issues. . . .can I?
BUT, I’m finding it nearly impossible to coordinate time and schedule wise more than 3 times a week. I’ve been focusing on getting the kids healthier choices.
AND, I’ve been personally trying to alter my eating habits since January. SO, following my “diet” also puts me at a slightly different situation than the kids (although, I know it doesn’t need to be different).
I hope I’m not the only ONE with these issues.
