how do u find the time??

Desiree - posted on 08/03/2010

well there are many options, but I definitely feel you!
One Here's to the boys, have you husband take care of you lil one while you cook, it's good one on one time and gives you a "break"
two, high chair a definite must, I keep my lil one fed and show her around and talk about what I'm doing, it helps her and helps me
three prep while they nap, you'll be surprised at the time saved later as well
four, slow cooker or anything in the oven, really a savior
Five, find easy and quick healthy meals, sometimes dinner can take me hours, or twenty minutes
A quick salad, with a side of rice and meat cooked in the oven
You'd be surprised at how much time planning can save
Six, my daughter has a mini kitchen in the kitchen and the bottom of all cabinets are filled with Tupperware and things she can "get into"
Bonne chance!

Carrie - posted on 08/01/2010

bring him into the kitchen with his toys and things to keep him busy mine loved the tupperware cupboard and just a plastic spoon and pan it totally works and I now do this with my 5 mth old I just bring her walker or bouncy seat into the kitchen if they can see me they r fine

Stephanie - posted on 07/28/2010

My daughter is 7 months old and I have one of those bumbo chairs for her and I put it right on the counter where I am working and give her a spoon to throw around and she is happy as can be. She would scream if I left her in another room where she couldn't see what was going on.

Keisha - posted on 07/27/2010

Is it that you are out of his sight when you are in the kitchen? If so, then try to put him in a playpen where he has a full view of you while performing in the kitchen and maybe he'll calm down. possibly he's just anxious that he can't see you and is wondering why he's hearing but not seeing. I hope this suggestion helps a bunch.

Sonia - posted on 07/25/2010

keep meals simple but if you can keep your son in a high chair or playpen with some toys where he can see you. talk to him about what you are doing cheerfully and maybe put some music on and sing or dance a little while your cooking just don't get too reckless around the knives and hot appliances.

Kylie - posted on 07/23/2010

Slow cooker is the way to go, but you DON'T need to listen to your little one cry whilst you prep either. Chop up all the ingredients and put into containers in the fridge the night before, when your son is already in bed asleep. Set out all the pantry ingredients and utensils on the bench before you go to bed. That way, in the morning, you can just get up, throw everything into the pot and switch it on. Hey presto, dinner's done. That saved my sanity for months.

Sophia - posted on 07/19/2010

u know what thats funny because my daughter went through the same thing she was stuck to me and screamed when even my mom touched her...i just kept bringing ppl around and taking her around ppl always and even if she cried for an hour i wouldnt leave i wouldnt hold her i would be there where she can see me at first while others held her then slowly i wasnt there anymore IT WORKED she was even like that with her physical therapist but i stayed in control and did what i knew i should do its ok if she cries she'll eventually in time stop good luck stay strong and keep working on doing things with ur hubby it's hard i know i have twins but u need romantic time u need a break or else things will get beyond hard and frustrating

Cherrie - posted on 07/18/2010

have a highchair in the the kitchen with spoons and a pot talk with him and turn on the radio let him think you are jamming to his music dancing while you work this can help sometimes and keep you both in a better mood

Christina - posted on 07/18/2010

Oh Montana - you are such a dedicated wife and mother. Don't be so hard on yourself. I rarely have the house clean, let alone dinner ready when my husband gets home. Try to enjoy your time spent with your son and if you do have time to cook and clean that is just the icing on the cake. Sounds like you are doing a great job - don't forget to give yourself some down time. Being a good mother and wife is hard work.

Mae - posted on 07/17/2010

My daughter (19 months) is going through the same thing she has play dishes and a play kitchen she "cooks" while I cook. I also find the time every couple of days to cook with her, it's always something easy and safe.

We've done sandwitches, cookies, pasta salad, toast but the favorite seems to be cupcakes. I buy the boxed mixes and icing and little candy sprinkles for the cupcakes. She has a little fisher price craft table that I move into the kitchen to work on. I measure the ingredients into measuring cups and then help her to pour them into the mixing bowl she gets a spoon to stir with and get one too, I get it started for her then let her take over mixing while I hold the bowl still for her. when it comes time to pour into the pan I use a ladle and she keeps stiring. It gets a little messy and she likes to sample the batter, but it's a lot of fun for her and me and it's great bonding time. When the cupcakes are cooked and cooled I spread on the icing and let her add the sprinkles.

Also I agree with A N sometimes I can't get everything done in one day there have been days that the vaccuming didn't get done or that dinning wasn't done when my husband got home from work. Those things happen don't think that you aren't a good wife and mother because you can't do it all everyday, most women I know can't have everything done all the time. Just remember dinner can usually wait a few moments and in 10 years will you remember what you ate that night? No probably not but you will remember playing make believe, singing to him, dancing around the house with him, and curling up on the couch to watch cartoons.

Tami - posted on 07/17/2010

I agree w/ Mylene...the slow cooker is great! So much of the prep work can be done the night before, stored in the fridge and tossed in the slow cooker in the morning when the kids tend to be happier and not so tired.

If you keep browned ground meats in your freezer you have the start of tons of different dinners (tacos, spaghetti sauce, casseroles, etc.) You can brown the meat at night after your child is in bed, portion it out into zip lock bags and freeze for another night.

If your child takes an afternoon nap that is the perfect time to throw together a meatloaf, casserole or whatever you plan to have for dinner. If you are doing something like stir fry that can't really be made ahead of time you can probably do some of the prep work during nap time.

If you child is old enough a small play kitchen set off in an out of the way corner of your kitchen might be a fun thing to keep your child busy.

We also kept all of our plastic lids and other "kid friendly" kitchen items in a bottom drawer that the kids played with while I cooked.

As frustrating as it is, please remember that this too shall pass (wow, did that sounds a little cliche-ish, or what???)

Good luck!

A - posted on 07/16/2010

I have one son, now 14 months old. He's been clingy from day one. Never sat in a bouncy seat, swing, etc. Either he plays happily on his own or I have to hold him. Its usually holding him. I don't have dinner ready for my husband every night. It just can't always happen. Sorry, I'm not going to leave my baby crying. I either wear my baby in a sling and get him involved in the process (now that he's older) like letting him taste the ingredients as I'm chopping them up, pour stuff in to the mixing bowl, etc. Or I wait until my husband gets home from work and either he can make dinner or can watch the baby while I cook it. Or he brings something home to eat on his way back from work.

It was really hard when my baby was first born because he is so needy. I thought staying at home all day I would be the perfect wife and have a clean house and dinner waiting. Then reality set it. Kudos to those women who have well behaved babies most of the time and can get it all done...but I can't. My kid needs me and I'm not going to ignore him all day to get everything done. I'm not implying others do ignore their children if they get things done, just saying my child doesn't allow me to.

So either find a way to wear your baby and have your hands free, or involve him, or rethink your idea of what it means to be a good wife/mother. Is it more important to cook or do laundry or attend to your childs needs?

Emma - posted on 07/16/2010

I don't know how old your child is, but when my kids start screaming and won't stop I put them either on the "naughty stair" or they go to their rooms. If you don't deal with the screaming now believe me it gets a lot worse. You don't have to put up with it!

Angela - posted on 07/16/2010

Also Play music, like Instrumental and classical music. Very soothing for them, give him a snack while cooking, also a pressure cooker is great for quick meals.

Mylene - posted on 07/16/2010

Slow cooker is great!

I let my son play with the plastic utensils and bowls, pots, pans while i cook. When the task allows I pick him up and show him what I'm doing....



He now has a leap frog puzzle that sticks to the fridge... it sings and tells him what the vehicules are too. it's awesome and keeps him busy dancing around the kitchen ;)

Josie - posted on 07/15/2010

Invest in a slow cooker. That way you'll only have to listen to him scream while your doing the prep work. Ive been going through the same thing for the last few months. It sux. But, hopefully itll end soon. lol

Brittany - posted on 07/15/2010

I put my daughter in her high chair and give her some toys then move it over to the kitchen. I play her the wiggles and sing to her as I'm cooking. I show her what I'm cooking and try to make it as interactive as possible. I plan on getting her some plastic cookware for her to play with when I cooking.

Melanie - posted on 07/15/2010

Is he still in a high chair? If he is place his high chair in the kitchen out of the way and let him play there. If not place him in an out of the way corner with his toys. Make it his spot and let him play there. If he is old enough to help let him. But basically find somewhere where he can see you and let him play there. and slowly over several months make the distance farther and farther away until he is just out of sight but can still hear you. And then farther still. It is a normal stage called seperation anxiety. It will pass with time. but you can help speed it along by slowly creating distance at certain times such as cooking time and nap time.