As a child, I adored playing “server.” I would don an apron, jot down imaginary food orders, and spend hours in the kitchen pretending to cater to my family (and my collection of stuffed animals). It was a delightful fantasy to fulfill everyone’s needs right from my little kitchen. What a wonderful world it seemed!
Fast forward a couple of decades, and here I am—living that dream, but not quite in the way I envisioned. For the last twenty years, I’ve been serving a seemingly endless crowd. I swear I’ve worn a groove in my kitchen floor from all the trips I make from the fridge to the pantry to the stove and back again. The irony isn’t lost on me—these people keep returning for more, and I’m left wondering if I can just sneak away for a quick coffee break. Seriously, can you all vacate the kitchen for a moment? You just had a snack five minutes ago!
If your household is anything like mine, the kitchen is in a state of perpetual chaos. It’s a never-ending loop of food prep, cooking, and cleaning, only to start the cycle again. I don’t recall growing up with such constant access to snacks or a never-ending supply of food. My mom was all about dinner, and most meals came from a box labeled “Helper” that took her 10 minutes to whip up. We’d eat quickly and disappear to play outside, not hang around waiting for food.
Today’s kids, however, seem to have a different agenda. When they’re not eating, they’re rummaging around looking for something to nibble on or, worse, opening a brand-new bag of chips even though there are three others already open! Really?
My kids have outgrown the babyproofing stage and are now in what I like to call the “raccoon phase.” I wake up to a kitchen that looks like a wild animal had a party overnight. With teenagers and tweens, their appetites are insatiable. It’s as if they’re constantly foraging for food, and I’ve resorted to hiding snacks! Yes, I’m the woman who spends $800 at Costco, only to hear, “Mom, there’s nothing to eat!” Unbelievable!
These days, I’ve got my kids on strict rations. Chips? Sorry, they’re stashed in a parka in the back of my closet. Granola bars? Nope, check under the sink in the tampon box. Fudge bars? You’ll find those in a box of frozen kale. Yeah, that’s what I thought. Now, could you please leave the kitchen?
Every time a well-meaning friend tells me I’ll miss these days, I can’t help but fantasize about a clean kitchen that stays tidy 24/7. I dream of having simple “sandwich nights” multiple times a week and enjoying date nights without the kids.
Do I miss the hefty grocery bills and my unintentional roles as waitress, sous chef, and dishwasher? Not a chance! I might just transform the kitchen into a shoe closet once they all move out.
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In summary, the chaos of modern parenting often leaves us longing for simpler times, where kids played outside rather than raiding the kitchen. As we navigate these demands, we can only hope for a moment of peace and cleanliness in our homes.