These 30 Days: Dinner

Tumultuous. It’s the perfect adjective for evenings in our household. It is kid-inspired tumult. They wake up from naps need nursing, snacking, potty-ing or diapering, entertaining, feeding, bathing, reading, and putting down for bed. I’m convinced that there is a direct proportional connection between the length of one’s legs and their neediness in the evening hours.

In the middle of our busy evenings, there’s hardly room for me to breathe, so cooking dinner has become a chore. Then, to top it off, I’m an uninspired dinner chef. We rely on old standbys-burgers, salads, spaghetti, basics-that are less than exciting for everyone. Blah. Dinner sucks.

Growing up, my family was the one who always sat down around the dining room table together, every night. Each evening, we’d sit down to chicken or casseroles, tacos or fish, something Mom had made. And Dad spooned whatever main dish onto each plate, serving each of us in turn. Looking back, it was a beautiful thing. And it all seemed so effortless, smooth, and comfortable.

While I love those memories, I don’t have those kinds of Norman Rockwell aspirations for my family, at least not yet. I’d love just to make it through an evening without feeling underwhelmed by what I’m eating and overwhelmed by the noise, chaos, and crazies.

So, for the next 30 Days, I’m tackling dinner. All I know is that it shouldn’t have to be difficult or a struggle, right? It’s my goal to make dinner interesting, simplified, delicious even. Maybe we’ll work toward the Norman Rockwell ideal once my kids are in school.