FIFTY YEARS AGO, when women were fighting their way into the working world, they not only had to raise their families while climbing the corporate ladder; they had to do so without the aid of multiple automobiles, cell phones, many household appliances, and computers. Despite the lack of these modern accessories, women were still expected to keep dinner on the table, lunches packed, and kids tucked carefully in bed.
In today’s world, moms no longer have to fight for a position in the workplace. In fact, most moms are expected or even required to work to make ends meet. Gone are the leisurely days of book clubs and Tupperware parties, and in their place are conference calls and business lunches. It’s not easy to keep work and home under control, and more often than not, it still falls on mom to keep everything balanced.
On top of everything, children are also much busier than in the past. Multiple sports for both boys and girls keep kids after school for extra hours each day; games are scheduled out of town multiple nights a week; and other extracurricular activities tie up precious family weekends. With music practices, study groups, and advanced classes (often on the collegiate level) cutting into family time, how can you expect to keep your family together, healthy, and engaged with one another?
Mealtimes.
Nothing brings the family together like a shared meal, and despite busy schedules, it is important to remember that there is still time to dine together several times a week as long as a little effort is made. Prep work on a Sunday afternoon can lead to no prep on a busy Wednesday night; a batch of muffins made on Saturday morning before soccer practice can be frozen and reheated for a quick grab-and-go breakfast on Friday. Bringing the family together for a Sunday breakfast of waffles can be a great way to start the impending action-filled week. A surprise picnic down by the lake later in the day can turn into a lasting memory for you and your children.
The important part is the preparation. Arming yourself with an arsenal of quick, family-friendly meals and desserts is a timesaving strategy. Simple ingredients that even your picky eaters will appreciate, basic cooking techniques, and a smartly stocked pantry are all key in making family meals work. It also helps to spend fifteen minutes or so making a menu plan for the upcoming week in order to save yourself from hours of indecision later on. It is this menu plan that can lead to a detailed shopping list, which will surely save you multiple visits to the grocery store (and money). With a few tips and tricks, and a little perseverance, you’ll find yourself becoming an old pro at managing both work and home life.
Enjoy your family, and enjoy your children while you can. They grow up so fast! Though they have so much on their young plates already, the meals you prepare and eat together will stick with them throughout their lives, bonding you forever.