I'm Soooo Tired of Cooking! Arrrrrggghhhhh!

One of the better rants I've heard in awhile :) And you are not alone! Unfortunately we have to eat to live, so it's a chore that we just have to "grin & bear" :( One suggestion is to make double amounts so you have 2 meals and just need to reheat. Or make 2 different meals at one time and freeze one for later on. Stay on the lookout for quick, easy-prep recipies. Teach the kids how to cook so they can help you (at first they are more of a hinderance than a help, but eventually they learn).

I got my husband a new bbq the week before father's day, and I haven't had to cook anything but side dishes since!

SOOOOOO not the only one!!!

I *love* cooking. But not every day. Dear god, not every day. Much less 3-4 times a day. Even LESS when I'm cooking on my own, a-gain, and a-gain, and a-gain. I was just totaling out that even when I cheat I spend at least 3 hours of my day, every day dealing with feeding us. Grocery shopping, menu planning, schlepping, prepping, cooking, and cooking, and cooking, and clearing the table, and cleaning the kitchen, and and and sheesh! And if I'm NOT cheating, I can easily end up spending from 4pm-7pm cooking dinner. LOL you know it's bad when you feed your kiddo out of a box purely so that you can delay ending your day at 4pm, and not start cooking until 7.

I'm officially adding to your gripe, because the dishes and I have are having a spat. Doing dishes 6 times a day is giving me glare-lines around my eyes. i've tried faking them out by smiling and saying I have a headache, but they aren't buying it.

I'm right there with ya! And when you're done cooking there's a big pile of dishes staring you in the face!!

I have started giving myself "freebies" and "easies" for dinners. I choose one easy crockpot a week, the kind where it takes just 5 minutes to open cans and stick everything in the pot! And I try to freeze leftovers so we can have them the next week. One night a week? We order out, even if it's a $5 Little Caesar's pizza!

But even with that, I feel your pain!!!

I couldn't agree more.

The other night I was on the verge of a cooking meltdown. We got home later than I wished, kids were clamoring for food, the meat wasn't thawed as I had hoped and hubby wasn't exactly cooperating. I was ready to proceed with Plan B but knew that I had a huge chip on my shoulder about it. I decided to skip the "made from scratch meal" and served ham sandwiches for dinner. It lessened my anxiety and that of the household. We ate, cleaned up quickly and were able to spend the rest of the evening as a family. No one went hungry.

My message here is to give yourself permission to take a break. It is okay to serve PB & J for dinner. An occasional bowl of cereal for dinner isn't going to harm anyone. Lower your standard, relax and take a break. Every Mom needs one. If no one gives you a break, just TAKE IT.

I hear ya! I don't remember the name of the place, but there is a place in NJ (Monmouth county i think) that you go and prepare meals for the week and bring them home and freeze them. That way when its time to eat, you just take it out and warm it up. Not sure how $$ it is though. But on that same note, when you cook this week, just make extra's that you can freeze- that way you just need to warm the food up. Maybe that will help.

But you are certainly NOT alone. I go through weeks feeling the same way. But then I feel bad when we order pizza one night, and have hot dogs the next. Its definitely a very daunting task to not only plan, shop, but then prepare everyday. To be honest, I can't remember the last time my husband has planned a meal. At most, he asks me whats for dinner, and occassionaly he will make it. I guess as a M., its just part of our job. Maybe your husband can help you out a little, to take some of the stress from you.

you know, i do the same thing. now my kids are off for the summer. yesterday made creppes for breakfast, veggies soup with half sandwich for lunchh. come dinner-time, had meat out to make tacos. i looked at the meat, looked at it, looked at it, and said screw this: we had leftovers from last night.
my husband was surprised that i did not cook. he thought we're having tacos. i am just too tired, or i was too tired.
this morning, i think i'll make pancakes, pb and j for lunch, and dinner, ggrrrrrrr tacos.
wish i knew how to make 20 min dinners

You are not alone.....I love to do everything at home BUT cooking. I have tried different things and think of my loved ones to make this task easier....but I cannot not feel the way many moms about cooking...
I understand you, and I feel so good that I am not alone because sometimes I feel so guilty about it, and then I thought why should I feel guilty???...it's something I just don't like to do!
One thing that has helped me to make this a little bit easier is having a huge barbecue (not barbecue sauce needed though...) and put on the grill meat, chicken, pork, sausages, etc in more quantity than I actually need. I freeze them in storage plastic bags (2 or 3 pieces per bag), and then I have most of the menu ready for the rest of the month. I just add the rice, salads, potatoes, etc. Just thaw, add the side dish and you are D.!. (That was my husband idea and we do it often weather permitting)

I hope this idea helps you a little.....

Your not alone by any means... I was complaining to my husband about this the other day. He stays home with our youngest and I work, then he expects me to cook dinner, and I told him that is his job he's the stay home parent... I cook for him on the weekends, then most every night unless I bring something home, which I don't mind, but tell me before I leave work. I do most of the cooking unless he's grilling, maybe once a week if that... He's the better cook too, he at one time wanted to go to culinary school. I too don't see why I have to cook as much as I do, plus work full time, do the laundry, do the dishes... Please know you are NOT alone...Vent anytime, I just did on your posting...

Better late than never, but I just now saw this question. If you haven't seen it, Robin Miller from the Food Network has a meal "morphing" plan where you make a large protien and then she gives you two more meals you can make just by adding different veggies and sauces. The main mean takes awhile--you're supposed to do it on the weekend--but the morphed meals only take 15-30 mintues, so not bad. They are also pretty healthy as she's a dietician.

I'm sure we all have those feelings sometimes!

Hello me. It's like I posted this in my sleep. It's the same down to weekly planning and the crock pot for streamlined meals. Don't know what else to tell you, but you are not alone.

i was feeling the same way. Didn't have time on school nights etc. I don't know if they have something like this where you are from. I order dinners every month from a place called Dinner Studio. I used to go there once a month a prep all my meals at once. They go into large plastic baggies you label them with cooking instructions and freeze. It was great and relaxing. Now they won't even offer you to come in and do your own. THey had so many people who just wanted it delivered. You order over the internet on the site, pick your dishes offered and add or delete ingredients as you like. It's easy and affordable. Figure the cost out over a month. Then I have 10 to 13 pre prepped dinners every month. You still have to cook them which is why they are so good but it's a matter of pouring it into a dish to bake or crock pot or bbq. Look it up and see if anything comes up in your area. Here their are choices. I always go with the ones with fresh ingredients. Not a lot of canned or processed stuff. You'll like it. D. G

You are definately not the only one! Try Trader Joes. They have good prepared and then frozen choices that are healthy and reasonably priced. Even if you just do it once a week, that is one night that is a little easier on you!

Hello, Have you tried cooking for a couple of days at a time? My late husband and I didn't eat the same things, so I was making two meals a day (I eat heart healthy, he didn't). I started making things which would last for a couple of days. When we were raising kids (4 of them) I also liked to make things which could be leftovers. It not only helps with the budget, it also made things easier when I was working two jobs (one was a the school all day, the other was daycare). You just have to figure out the favorites and that way they aren't looking at it as leftovers.
Good luck with your precious family.
K. K.

Just a response to let you know you're not alone. People think I'm crazy because I don't own a crock pot. Not sure I'd even use one if I had it.

I just don't like cooking! I am a good cook, but I don't enjoy the prep, the clean-up, the time I could be spending with my family instead.

But, I do it because I want my kids to be healthy. We did oatmeal last night because I haven't gone grocery shopping yet this week and it was a better option than Mac & Cheese. My husband is limited in his meal preparation abilities, so it's easier for me to do it. We're both working parents, so I tend to do things on the fly when I get home because the thought of preparing a meal list the weekend before is nauseating to me.

You are not alone, Sister!

I love menu planning and preparing meals, but when things get busy you can really burn out on it. Every once in awhile I have to take a week off and just serve stuff from Trader Joes or FreshNeasy that is ready-made.
I totally understand why so many moms turn to pop tarts, cans of chef boyardee and lunchables. I try to avoid that at all costs though!
I got in the habit of making a casserole on the weekend to use later in the week... that kind of helps on a Wednesday night when you really don't feel like doing anything. But I know what you mean, even reheating a casserole and steaming a vegetable on the side is still "cooking"... as is cheaping out and making grilled cheeses or quesadillas or something. I totally get it!
And yes, the dishes are a CONSTANT! The more elaborate/balanced/organic a meal is, it seems the more dishes and utensils it requires. My kids are too young to help with this part but I can't wait til the day they can!

You are not alone at all. Some weeks I hate different things. Just last week I hated laundry!

LOL I know what you mean :) Get with one of your girlfriends and spend a few hours on the weekend preparing meals you can easily freeze and simply reheat during the week, it will help keep you from ripping your hair out, and it's a ton more fun doing it with a friend (and some drinks!) When all else fails, no one will ever judge you for giving your kid cereal for dinner ;)

I couldn't agree more. And its harder still when one member of your family never wants to give input on what to make for dinner (yep, that would be MY hubby). I ask him "what do you want for dinner later" and I get "I don't care, whatever you want to make". THEN he complains that he feels like we have such-and-such every week. My 5 yr old and I would be happy to just eat buttered noodles or baked potatoes every day, but lets face it, that's not very healthy. I literally stress every day until about noon (because if its not out to be defrosted by that time, we won't be eating at a decent hour). I wish this was the Jetsons, where every meal was a little pill, POOF! dinner is DONE!

Yea, I feel it too. Especially the dishes part. But then I'm sure my husband often feels like that about going to work and having also to do work when he gets home. So I just try to adjust me attitude and realize that this is life!

maybe this site will help - http://www.savingdinner.com

This made me laugh, I just made this complaint to a friend on the phone. No you are not alone. There are days I would rather cut off an appendage than cook. Seriously. To make matters worse I run a catering and cake decorating business out of my home. So some days I am cooking for strangers. My hubby calls before he leaves work to make sure I don't need anyhting. And every night before he comes home he asks,, "What are we doing for dinner?" WE? WE?!!!! WE are doing nothing. I will be cooking XYZ. I swear one of these days I am going to reach through the phone and shake him. And my kids don't even like cereal so that's not an option. Sigh. My tricks? Sandwich night. I throw out all the ingredients and everybody makes a sammie, at least then I am just preparing mine and my daughter's. I have also learned to prepare double of things and stock our freezer, so I have prepared meals on hand that just need reheating. If I am making lasagna, I make two and freeze one. I make pot pies, six at a time. Etc, etc. I still have to cook it, but at least I am just throwing it in the oven instead of doing all the hoopla that goes with cooking. And sometimes weekends I will just flat out tell the hubby he has to do dinner. Which means we will get meat off the grill. Maybe one random side. But I don't care. At least I didn't have to plan, prepare or cook it. I am with Danielle B.....where's that Jetson's pill??

I saw your post and had to laugh. I was screaming this just the other day to my boyfriend, my best friend, my aunt over the phone, whoever would listen. Good to know I am not alone!!! BTW...I have been on a boycot this week and it seems to be working out pretty well. "Opps I forgot to take the meat out of the freezer to defrost, welp I guess we are gonna have cereal." =) hehehehe

My mother had 6 children and her idea of cooking was to put a TV dinner in the oven and sometimes she didn't even bother to do that. I am a good cook, have done it since I was about 15, and am now in my 60s. I am sick of it and now all I want to do is put some peanut butter and jelly on a slice of bread and sit down in front of the TV but I can't.

Having to provide someone else's meals for those many years is very hard. Cleanup means almost two hours of scrubbing and wiping. Thank you for listening. I feel better.

I have 2 picky eaters with specific and differing tastes and a hubbie that wants freshly cooked food everyday....its fair to say I am so over cooking.......just waiting to win the lottery so I can get a full time chef....

I dont have this problem because I LOVE TO COOK. I have found it easier to cook as a family. We all do something and at the same time we spend time together. i wish i had the time to cook for my family all the time but with me and my husband working is kind off hard. i have a 3 years the llikes homemade tacos and enchiladas, and a 9 month old baby. So its kind off hard i have my hands full. But try simple recipes.GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!