Time to Interrupt
“Do you know how Rachel Ray makes 30-minute meals? She doesn’t have children!”
Frustrated, I made this statement while ending the second half-hour of an attempt to make one of her dishes. I know Rachel books it on her show, but still … even when I’m kicking tail trying to use my time as efficiently as possible, there is no way I’m getting any of her meals done in less than thirty minutes. Why? Because I have children.
Time passes differently with children in the house. Before having kids, we had the luxury of time – a luxury we squandered not knowing what we had. We took for granted our ability to be spontaneous. We could decide to go anywhere at a moment’s notice and without a second thought.
Isabel put a little damper on that, but not much. Having a child caused us to pause just long enough for a second thought. More times than not, we simply continued with our spontaneous whatevers. As an infant, she didn’t take up much space and traveled light. Yeah, life with one was not too much different than life with none.
But just like our footloose, child-free days, the era of just one was finite, destined to pass in short order. I am still adjusting to the surprise of Zach; the sudden life of two.
Time is definitely different with two. If a recipe claims to take one hour and fifteen minutes (total time including prep and baking), the mother of two should start it no later than 3:30 if she wants to serve it before 7 PM. Everything takes longer. Getting ready in the morning, getting out the door, eating lunch … everything. Interruptions are never-ending. But then I think: What is the interruption here? Are my kids interrupting my chores? Or are my chores interrupting my real life as a mother? What is most important?
Someone said “When your children are young, the days are long, but the years are short.” It is so easy to lose track of time and priorities in the rush of everyday life. We all have thousands of things on our to-do lists and our wish-to-do lists. But what is really important? Is it better to make a meal in thirty minutes or to share the hour-and-a-half prep time with little helpers?
"There is an appointed time for everything." -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Now is not my time to be a speedy culinary genius. Perhaps in five, ten or twenty years … Right now is the appointed time for me to enjoy my little helpers and revel in these wonder-packed interruptions to a life of chores.
Frustrated, I made this statement while ending the second half-hour of an attempt to make one of her dishes. I know Rachel books it on her show, but still … even when I’m kicking tail trying to use my time as efficiently as possible, there is no way I’m getting any of her meals done in less than thirty minutes. Why? Because I have children.
Time passes differently with children in the house. Before having kids, we had the luxury of time – a luxury we squandered not knowing what we had. We took for granted our ability to be spontaneous. We could decide to go anywhere at a moment’s notice and without a second thought.
Isabel put a little damper on that, but not much. Having a child caused us to pause just long enough for a second thought. More times than not, we simply continued with our spontaneous whatevers. As an infant, she didn’t take up much space and traveled light. Yeah, life with one was not too much different than life with none.
But just like our footloose, child-free days, the era of just one was finite, destined to pass in short order. I am still adjusting to the surprise of Zach; the sudden life of two.
Time is definitely different with two. If a recipe claims to take one hour and fifteen minutes (total time including prep and baking), the mother of two should start it no later than 3:30 if she wants to serve it before 7 PM. Everything takes longer. Getting ready in the morning, getting out the door, eating lunch … everything. Interruptions are never-ending. But then I think: What is the interruption here? Are my kids interrupting my chores? Or are my chores interrupting my real life as a mother? What is most important?
Someone said “When your children are young, the days are long, but the years are short.” It is so easy to lose track of time and priorities in the rush of everyday life. We all have thousands of things on our to-do lists and our wish-to-do lists. But what is really important? Is it better to make a meal in thirty minutes or to share the hour-and-a-half prep time with little helpers?
"There is an appointed time for everything." -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Now is not my time to be a speedy culinary genius. Perhaps in five, ten or twenty years … Right now is the appointed time for me to enjoy my little helpers and revel in these wonder-packed interruptions to a life of chores.
Labels: encouragement, parenting, time
7 Comments:
Any career kick-started or endorsed by Oprah is going to lack realism, that's for sure!
Aside from this personally opinionated view of mine, you got it pegged. I only had the privilege of raising two children out of four pregnancies, and those with more children can scoff at my idea, but I thought if you have two, you might as well as four or more! It definitely more than doubles the effort, especially when they are born so close together as yours are.
That is a great quote: "When your children are young, the days are long, but the years are short." Soooo true! I can't say it enough because I think it all the time: the years my kids were little were the BEST. I absolutely love the freedom I have now that they're older, but freedom doesn't make us free from care...we'll always be mothers. The more you put into your children when they are little, the less regrets you can harbor when they are older--tomorrow!
Tonya Sue, loved the Rachel Ray article. You be sure and send her your blog address..LOL!
Cildren are more important than a fine meal spread on the table, but I like to have both. Crock pots make wonderful meals...a lot of "instant" boxes were going on in my kitchen. Did I mention crock pots? Yeah, they're great.
Nice blog.
-Loretta, aka: "peridot08"
Cami: You always encourage me to treasure these moments in spite of the choas. THANK YOU!
Loretta: It is so funny you say this! I just bought a crockpot yesterday. I was amazed how much easier my afternoon went! 'Happy hour' (when the kids go crazy right before their dad gets home) was MUCH easier to handle knowing dinner was already done. :) Thanks for stopping by!
This hit me this week here at our house. In an attempt to make some different meals, I reverted back to some I made pre-children. You know the ones that I could whip up after I got home from work. I realized that doesn't work with kids waking up from naps. I certainly prefer the ones I can get the ingredients ready in the morning, mix at lunchtime, and put in the oven in the afternoon :)
I hope you don't mind me stopping again
Momma Roar: No more apologies!! Just bring a friend next time. ;) Thanks for stopping by. You're always welcome here!
I have no idea who Rachel Ray is Tanya...I have to agree with Cami, the best years were when my children were little, although i don't seem to have gained any more freedom since they have become adults...I had three kids under four so it was always hectic around meal times and they could not wait for full blown dinners to be prepared and then cooked either.I preferred to give them pasta or baked beans, quick hands on stuff and spend some quality time with them before they grew too big for the hugs and kisses I smothered them with..Come to think of it they still enjoy them, the hugs and kisses not the baked beans..I did enjoy cooking though and making special dishes and it must have rubbed off some because my son is a Head chef..
Carol: Thank you, again, for your always encouraging comments!! I love hearing your thoughts. :) Just to fill you in ... Rachel Ray has a near empire here in the States. She does 30-minute-meals, start to finish including everying - main dish, side dishes and dessert. She has a talk show, two different travel shows and at least two different cooking shows ... and a TON of cookbooks and a magazine now! It's crazy. I wouldn't trade lives for a moment.
Tanya.
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