When I was a young girl, my favorite imaginative game was “waitress.” I would don an apron, carry a notepad, and take food orders, then spend hours preparing meals for my siblings and stuffed animals. It was a delightful experience to cater to others’ needs right from my kitchen. Ah, such a dream come true!
However, it seems that dreams can sometimes turn into a never-ending reality. For the past twenty years, I have found myself consistently serving numerous individuals in my household. I am convinced that I have created a permanent groove in the floor tiles leading from the refrigerator to the pantry to the oven and back again. Ironically, those I serve keep returning, asking for more.
Is it too much to ask for a moment of peace in the kitchen? Seriously, can everyone please step out? You just had a meal five minutes ago, and yet here we are again!
In my home, the kitchen is perpetually open. It’s a relentless cycle of food prep, cooking, and cleaning, only to start the feeding frenzy all over again. I don’t recall having such constant kitchen access as a child, nor did I ever need a snack schedule. My mother typically prepared one meal a day, often something quick and straightforward, like a box meal that took mere minutes to prepare. We would eat and then remain outside until it was time for dinner, never lingering in the kitchen.
Today’s children, it appears, have a vastly different experience. They are either eating or searching for something to nibble on, often rummaging around for snacks. I mean, how many bags of chips do we need open at once? It’s astonishing!
My children have progressed past simple baby-proofing; we are now in the “raccoon phase.” I go to bed with a tidy kitchen, only to wake up to a scene resembling a wild party thrown by hungry animals. This phase is characterized by living with tweens and teenagers whose appetites seem insatiable.
To cope, I’ve resorted to hiding food. Yes, hiding it! The same person who spends a small fortune at the grocery store only to be told two days later, “Mom, there’s nothing to eat.” It’s absurd. I’ve started rationing snacks. Want some chips? Sorry, they’re in the back of my closet. Granola bars? They’re tucked away under the sink. Fudge bars? Check the box of frozen vegetables. Now, can we please clear the kitchen?
When a kindly neighbor mentions how I’ll miss these days, I daydream about a perfectly clean kitchen and the simplicity of having “sandwich night” multiple times a week. The thought of escaping the endless grocery bills and my unintentional role as a waitress is quite appealing. I might even transform the kitchen into a shoe closet once they’re all grown up.
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In summary, the kitchen often feels like a battleground in my home, with endless requests for food and snacks. Despite the chaos, I sometimes dream of a quieter, more organized kitchen space.
Keyphrase: Kitchen Chaos and Parenting
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