If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

Even though I am a SAHM I find it difficult to cook dinner with them. Not mention that DH comes home around 5:30/6pm and we spend that hour-hour and half with the kids. They go to sleep at 7.

So how does everyone do it?

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

I have dd in the kitchen with me when I cook. I try to do some of the prep when she is napping, if she naps. Now that she is a little older, she has a bit more free run of the house and that makes it easier. I also have a tupperware drawer that she loves to play in. Since we all eat the same thing, I serve dinner once.

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

We don't eat together every night. But if I get home from work and can throw something together in 10 minutes, we play w/him while it cooks then we all eat together. I'm trying to do this more often. Just stick to easy dinners! I cook big on wkends for leftovers during the week to reheat.

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

My DH eats with us 2-3 days a week and weekends. He generally comes home these days at 6pm. No matter what, I have dinner on the table at that time--whether he's there or not. For me, it's more important to keep the girls' schedule and it also makes him realize that he's got to be there on time or we're moving on! They go to bed between 7:30 and 8pm.

Honestly, I'm not making complicated meals at all. Typical meals include tilapia, pork loin, hamburgers/hotdogs, macaroni/meatballs, etc. I put the TV on for the girls and do my thing. I also try to involve Katherine if possible. Luckily, the girls both take late naps: Kate from 3:00-4:30 and Abby somewhere around there too, so if I'm doing something more "adventurous" I'll start it then.

Trust me though, there's been many nights I'm covered in breadcrumbs and yelling at someone!

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

We eat together every night. When I come home from work I started dinner. Usually DS is in the kitchen with me trying to do the same things that I am doing but if he does get in my way then I put him in the pack n play until dinner is almost done.

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

We eat together every night

I let gianna go into my pot cabinet and play while i start dinner. Amelia goes into her exersaucer. Gianna LOVES to watch me cook, so i put her in her highchair next to me and talk to her and give her the play by play. She actually pushes her highchair into the kitchen now to watch mommy cook.

She eats with us during dinner and then we clean up have family play time and then start bedtime.

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

DD is usually playing or watching a show while I prep dinner. Sometimes she'll do her fridge phonics or help in the kitchen. It's not always easy but I will say it's easier as she gets older.

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

We eat together every night. My DH usually doesn't, as he works late, so its just me and the two kids. They play while I cook, and yes, sometimes they are under my feet, but what can you do?? We eat about 7 p.m., but my kids don't go to bed until 9.

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

We eat together every night. I come home around 6pm, start cooking dinner, play with DS, DH helps. We all eat together around 6:45.

DS will play in the kitchen or under my feet. I think it is important we eat home cooked meals and dinner together.

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

My DH works evenings. I eat with DD every night though. It works b/c DD goes to bed at 7:00 so then I make dinner for the next night. So the next afternoon, DH takes his dinner that was prepared the night before and I just reheat the rest for DD and I. I don't "cook" while she awake really.

Re: If your DC eat dinner with you... I have some questions

I try and make some of the food on the weekend so I can freeze it and reheat during the week.