Simplifying?

When I started this blog, I did it to reach out to other moms because I felt lonely.  I am happy that since then, I have spent time with other mothers, and some old friends too.  I think your feedback has helped me gain some confidence.  Thank you for that.

I  have been completely out of ideas for what to write about.  I've thought of something for today, and I hope I will have ideas more often now.  Sorry for the dry spell.

I don't know if it is just mothers, or if it is all women who strategically plan out everything.  The second I wake up, I am planning each and every move in advance.  1 - get dressed, 2 - let dog downstairs (because if Jude goes first, dog will push him over)then let Jude downstairs, 3 - let dog out, 4 - put Jude's porridge in microwave, 5 - turn on Netflix, 6 - put porridge in freezer to cool quickly, 7 - change Jude's diaper (to give porridge time to cool), 8 - set Jude up at high chair, 9 - Give him porridge and turn on cartoons, and 10 - finally get crying Murphy and feed him (because I didn't want to have to bring him down at the beginning just to sit around and sob).  It's the easiest way I can think of and I do it every day.

I even try to plan things out for Wade.  Poor guy.  One night, all I wanted him to do was put food and water out for our dog, then let him in.  I asked him, "Wade, would you bring the bag of dog food to the porch, fill Lenny's bowl, bring the bag back along with the water bowl, fill the bowl with with water, bring it back to the porch, then get Lenny, please?"  and he replied with, "So...feed the dog?".

I know that is all I could have said, but when he comes home at the end of the day I feel bad asking him to do anything, so when I do, I want it to not take too much effort.  I knew that if I said just feed the dog, he would have taken an extra trip to the porch and back that he didn't need.  Of course, I made it complicating by using step by step instructions for something so simple, but I know I would want to avoid an extra trip if I could.  He, on the other hand, doesn't care.

When you have little kids, cooling time for food always factors into your "simplifying" step by step process throughout the day.  You need enough time so that it is edible, but if it gets too cold, you risk starting all over again if it gets too hot in the microwave.  I have been coming up with some tricks though!  Some of you may have thought of them, others may not have children, or your kids are too young, so it hasn't become a problem for you yet (it will!).

Lately, when I make Jude porridge in the morning (instant oatmeal), I make sure I have little containers of applesauce (like the school snack ones) in the fridge.  As soon as the porridge is out of the microwave, I dump the cold applesauce in and it brings it down to a perfect temperature, and keeps it thick enough for a two-year-old to keep on a spoon (unlike milk).  I'm sure you could use other things like yougurt, or pudding as well!

For cooling down suppers, I sometimes make stove-top/microwaveable vegetables (like peas and carrots) before-hand and keep them in the fridge.  You can put the cold vegetables into soup, chilli, lasagne, stew, almost anything really.  It saves your child a lot of time waiting with a hungry tummy.

If any of you have any other ideas for cooling down food creatively, please let me know!  My little guys get super demanding when they're hungry!!