Feeding the Family Without Losing Your Mind
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Some people who are not fully acquainted with the world of homeschooling have this misguided idea that a homeschooling mom and the kids have tons of free time to clean the house and cook nutritious meals for the family. While there might be a few homeschool families that fit this mold, I know that mine is NOT one of them.
I can really relate to something Rachael Carman said at the first Apologia Live! (Now Real Refreshment Retreats) in Baltimore during 2009: I can have a great homeschooling day. I can have a clean house. I can have a hot meal ready and on the table after my husband comes home. BUT, I can’t have them all on the same day.
So, with the homeschool year starting up, what am I planning to achieve the goal of feeding the family without losing my mind? (Note ~ links may be affiliate links)
First off, I am going back to meal planning. Rather than just do it with pen and paper, I’m going to be using Build a Menu as well. (They have a sale running through August 31st which gives you 3 months for $15.)
Beyond having ideas for family friendly dishes (recipes included), they also have Trim Healthy Mama dishes. As I am wanting to get back on track with my personal health and adopt more of a THM eating plan, this is a win win for me.
Secondly, I am including the boys more and more in the process.
My eldest is quite competent now with following a recipe to make something and the other boys are slowing improving. Most of the recipes I’ve shared her on the blog in the past few years are family favorites which they are acquiring the skills to reproduce.
The recipes I want them to master which you can grab for yourself on this site are:
Roast Pork with Pears and Craisins
Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole
I am also going to be doing some batch / freezer cooking and rely more upon the crockpot or pressure cooker to speed up the process.
In the end, I hope to have less days where the dinner hour approaches and I haven’t a clue what we’re having.
What are some ways that you manage to feed the family without losing your mind?
Please consider visiting other bloggers sharing during this blog hop. Below are just a few of those participating. Nikki @ Angels of Heart Tauna @ Proverbial Homemaker Melanie @ finchnwren Sarah @ Delivering Grace Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory Linda @ Linda’s Lunacy Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road
These are some good ideas. I love the quote by Rachael Carman!
And I subscribed to Build a Menu at the homeschool convention this year also. 🙂
I reflect on that particular quote OFTEN, Leah. I’m definitely not a June Cleaver type of woman to begin with and yet some people think it should be all perfect.