One of the hardest things about our move has been finding a schedule that works for us. Not only works, but works well.
There’s a new day off for Chip (as well as payday), so our erranding day has changed.
There are new days for meetings. For visitation.
There’s school to throw into the mix – and a 20 month old who REFUSES to be left out. I finally broke down and bought her a folder of her very own, along with a notebook. The alternative was endless shrieks of “She stole my worksheet!” or tears because the big kids wouldn’t “share” with her. I’ve graded more papers this year with scribbles from a “helpful” sister than I had in all the other years of preschooling with a toddler underfoot put together. And she’s not content with just a plain sheet of paper. It must have actual work to do on it or she is not satisfied.
We’re sorting through priorities and trying to find a new normal. Something that works for us. I think we’re getting there.
And realize fully that once we DO find a schedule that works, something will likely come along shortly after to throw us off again.
One of the biggest things that I can do to help with this schedule is meal planning. For a family of 7, it’s absolutely NECESSARY.
But here’s my problem.
Every week, I ask the same question.
“What do y’all want to eat for dinner this week?”
And every. single. week. it’s the same. I get blank stares. Shrugging shoulders. Choruses of “I don’t know” ring through my house.
Someone please tell me that it’s not just like this in my house. Please.
So, I’m up late on a Sunday night (because that’s what happens when you take a 3 hour nap), figuring out what I’m going to feed my family this week.
Monday – Hamburgers and fries (which I am absolutely AMAZING at making)
Tuesday – Carnitas from Pioneer Woman’s Pulled Pork This is by far the BEST pulled pork recipe I’ve ever had. And it makes a TON!
Wednesday – Italian Beef — this is probably my favorite meal. Ever.
Thursday – Lasagna — ok, this may actually be my favorite meal. Which means I get to make homemade sauce at some point this week. My house is going to smell AMAZING this week!
Friday – BBQ pizza (made with leftover pork)
Saturday – Cowboy Pie (kind of like shepherds pie, only with pulled pork instead of beef. And no veggies.)
Sunday – C.O.R.N. (Clean Our Refrigerator Night)
There are a lot of old stand-bys on this weeks menu. I’m starting to get bored with it (which is always a HUGE upset in my schedule making – I hate to be bored!). What’s for dinner at your house this week?
I only have one more son, age 25, living at home, so there are only three of us to cook for but I love to cook, so I am in charge of that. My delimna is that I work outside the home from 8-5, M-F. And now I’ve added a Tues and Thurs workout at the gym right after work, so I don’t get home until after 8 pm on those nights. But I’ve developed a great system that could also help others. I go grocery shopping every Saturday, so I always used to go through my recipes on Thursday or Friday and wrote out a menu for the next week. This menu planning took about an hour every week, so here is what I do now. I’ll continue in another comment in case this one is getting too long.
We had left-overs tonight and everyone ended up very happy and it was easy. We are having a whole chicken recipe in the crockpot this week too. The kids are love that recipe when I make it. That will have left overs for some different recipes throughout the week and since we also made a brisket Sunday we’ll have more of those, probably in burritos or on bread/sandwiches everyone can choose to their liking.
Completely understand about a new schedule thing all part of a big move I suppose. I do meal planning too and often ask my family what they want, sometimes I get help/suggestions other times not so much. My biggest problem with meal planning is now we’re in soccer season, so two practices a week (5-6) which isn’t bad considering Bryce is done at a good time, then Christina’s dance, again done by 6, but it cuts into the meal preparation time, so lots of crockpot meals or meals I can put in the oven while practices are happening and we are ready to eat when we get back home from practices. I don’t want to be starting a meal at 6, I want to be eating at 6. How did I ever do this and work almost full-time is the question I keep asking myself.