Sunday 27 January 2013

I discovered something magnificent


One of the most heard of challenge regarding work-family balance is often related to week day meal preparation.

My work days end at 3:30pm, add a 30 minute commute, "too much time" socializing with the owners at Alice's daycare (as Alice's second family, it is only logical for me to get involved as much as I can with them), 30 minute walk home since I generally let Alice baby carrier/stroller free so she can wander the neighborhood while exercising (toddlers shouldn't be inactive for more than 1 hour at a time, well, except when they're sleeping or sick). We generally reach our home at the same time as Dan at 5:00pm, ready to prepare our meal since we eat at 6:00pm.

To be honest, I don't know how "normal" people do it...my definition of "normal" people are parents both working 9:00am to 5:00pm schedule. If you have a minute, I would love to know about your "routine".

So far our evenings are pretty smooth but, since I always try to find ways to make our family life easier, I rolled up my sleeves on Saturday and went to my very first community kitchen...and I LOVED it! 

From 8:30am to 3:30pm, a small group of parents washed, cut, mixed, cooked, assembled five pre-selected meals. By the end of the day, I had in my basket 12 portions of spaghetti sauce, 13 Italian sausages calzones, 38 sweet and sour meatballs, 12 portions of chicken parmigiana and bags full of frozen chocolate pecan cookie dough.  All that delicious food for 60$...every portion costing approximately 1$.

Our freezer is now packed jam and ready to accommodate our more hectic evenings. 

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The best way to spend a sick day (Alice and one of her numerous "boyfriends" both got a cold last week) at home: looking at the city snow removal trucks and other creepy machines!

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indigorchid: I would love one of those traditional outfits. Much smarter than most options available on the market for mothers! 

anonymous: I'm so happy to know that I'm not the only one finding similarity between dog education and toddler education :)

peanut: OMG! This is awesome that you got to be carried in a amouti! You should totally ask your mom. 

rebecca: I'm not complaining since I really love looking at kids stuff but when your daughter has more clothes than you (or any other things as a matter of facts) you know it is time to evolve a bit!

lila: It is truly a lovely product. I can't wait to share more little discoveries.

kt: Thank you sssooo much! xox

briar: You have so many lovely products. I know the scrub is coming to Montreal very soon :) 

4 comments:

Di said...

The idea of a community kitchen sounds like such a good idea. Do you know how they get around the issues of food hygeine? Is it all prepared in a kitchen that meets safety standards? Sorry to be asking, but I think it is such a good idea that I think we should try to organise something similar here in Dundee.

The snow clearing vehicle is impressive indeed!

Emmy Lou said...

Oh I wish I had something like that... although I could totally organize such a thing, maybe I will one of these days.

Anyhow, we are two parents working 8:30am-5pm (dad till 5:30). I take the bus home and get there at 5:30. Baby is already home because she is last cared for by the nanny share peeps. So, I chat with nanny snuggle play with baby, and try to get her in her booster and eating by 6/6:15. Usually takes her till 7 to finish eating (between being a choosy 1 year old and feeding herself) Daddy gets home at 6. We all play from 7-7:30 then off to bedtime routine, down by 8. THEN we try to eat/make our grown up dinner. It is getting better as she is starting to eat more of what we do (we finally have ONE tooth!) but even so. The evening goes quick, too quick.

Bess Callard said...

That is amazing!! Take me with you next time, please! xo

Astrid said...

That sounds fantastic!