No children or pets in the kitchen while cooking.
Cooking is MY time. That is probably why I enjoy it so much! My husband takes the kids to another room, and it is his time to play and entertain them while I prepare dinner. It keeps the atmosphere peaceful. Otherwise, my 4 yr. olds little fingers are continuously reaching on the countertop trying to snag whatever it is that I am cutting. And my 21 month old is hanging on my legs or pushing the kitchen chairs over to the island so that she can "help" me cook. She isn't helpful, but she is cute.
Again, being a music city mom, I have had to prepare and cook ahead on the days that Luke is out of town. I quickly learned that cooking while two kids are running around the kitchen is not a beautiful experience. Furthermore, if that is the scene, then I always sit down for dinner with knots in my shoulders.
What if your husband wants/likes dinner ready right at 5:30pm when he walks through the door so you have to cook with the kids hanging on your legs and crying? Well than no wonder you hate cooking if that is your situation. It's stressful. Here is my suggestion. Try saying this in a very pleasant tone, “Sweetheart, that is a great idea. If you want dinner at 5:30pm, than be home by 4:30pm to cook it yourself and have it prepared by 5:30pm, I would love to eat at that time, sounds perfect to me.” Otherwise, he gets home, takes the kids, gives you your first time to breathe all day, and allows you to pleasantly prepare the dinner for your family. Being a mom is wonderful, but it is hard work, and we are just as tired at the end of a long day. It is ok to be a wife and a mom AND to NOT feel like you are slaving away night and day. We want to cook and prepare dinner for our family to enjoy.....we just need peace and quiet to do so! Then we can truly say, “This was prepared with love!” If hubby does get home by 6pm and it is too late to start trying to cook at that time I totally understand. On the days that Luke is in the studio he is not home until 5:45 or 6, so it is too late for me to begin preparing dinner at 6pm. This is where I cut myself a break, and turn on a nice educational show for the kids to watch while I peacefully prepare dinner. They get there time to calm down before dinner and I get my time to calm down as well. I do understand that this issue with "space" will change as my children get older. As I said before, my 21 month old daughter and many times my son as well, really do want to help me in the kitchen. Bethany, is just not helpful at this time. She reaches, grabs, and shoves things into her mouth that I am trying to prepare. Jonah can be helpful at times and really loves to spend that time with me, so I do allow him at times to help me. It's fun for him and it gives us something to bond over. However, again, it is ok, to say, "Tonight, I need some space, and mommy is just going to prepare dinner by herself."
My second rule: No pets in the kitchen. My little yorkie, Sully, knows exactly what “out of the kitchen!” means. He literally stands in one of the adjoining rooms to the kitchen and watches me. I hate cooking with him under my feet. At my parents, they have not trained their dogs to stay out of the kitchen, and you have to cook with a large German Shorthaired pointer's nose right at the counter, waiting for one drop of food. While on the other side of your leg is a small yorkie shaking and waiting as well, and you continuously step on or trip over him. Stressful! These are those atmospheres/times that I would suggest that tequila shot I mentioned earlier before you start cooking!
Clear out the kitchen, clear out your head, enjoy the space, pour a glass of wine, and cook a lovely dinner.
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