Sorry if this is long

Went to a friend's party this weekend - I became the "hot topic" of conversation- mind you I usually melt into the background- some how it came up with the guys that I cook breakfast every morning for our family of 6 - and people found this to be the strangest thing they have ever heard! ( between you and me-- I couldn't believe how many people never cook breakfast. ) I make pancakes - eggs and bacon - egg sandwhiches - oatmeal - whatever - but I feel the kids and my hubby need a hot meal to start the day - I never eat breakfast - just my coffee - but i love to have them all eating around the kitchen table while I pack their lunches.

My friend's husbands were having a fit because I cook in the morning - and every night - we rarely eat out maybe once every two months we get pizza- I guess I assumed everyone cooks in the morning- And yes I work fulltime- M-F .

Now one of my good friend's is mad at me - WHAT?? - because her husband is upset with her - she is a SAHM with a kindergarden age child - and they eat out 3-4 times per week . What does that have to do with me?

I find it so much more cost effective to not eat out - is it really strange to cook these days?

I think eating out as infrequently as you do may be unusual these days - but certainly NOT a bad thing! I only have myself and my ds and I can't get organized enough to cook breakfast for us every day. Heck, I don't even know you and I'm jealous!

Don't worry about it - some people always have to be talking about someone - just consider that now they have a good topic.

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Mom to 3 - one with 2 legs and 2with 4!

No it isn't, I am a SAHM and we only do big breakfasts on week-ends, but I cook dinner most nights.....I can't imagaine eating our 3-4 nights a weeks,

i don't think it's strange to cook these days, but i do believe it is rare! i think it's admirable that you work and still find time to cook every day. i just dislike cooking, so we will do take out once a week and i only do the "big breakfasts" on saturday or sunday.

your friend is probably ticked at you because her DH is ticked at her. it's that trickle down effect! you didn't do anything wrong and you should be proud of what a caring mom and wife you are.

I don't know that "strange" would be the appropriate word--

I don't make breakfast here, and it is not something I have ever done. I do make lunch and dinner though. Breakfast is pretty much a free=for=all...if you can cook it, eat it.

Every family is different though. You have a larger family, so I would imagine that the cost of dining out is pretty expensive and cumbersome--almost like work (LOL)...we have a family of 4, and do not eat out as often as we did when we only had a family of 3 or when both DH and I were working. It also reflects on your family budget--where dining out is a luxury not a way of life.

For our family of 4, we eat out perhaps 2x a week (lunch or dinner)...the rest of the time we are at home for meals.

I can't imagine that a "good friend" is mad at you for something you have no control over.

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SPJRNTGADL!

I am a SAHM, and may cook a big breakfast 2-3 times a week, because sometimes my kids just like to have the boring stuff, like cereal or cream of wheat. etc.....

I don't see why anyone should be made at you though.....what someone else does in their home should not set the tone for what everyone else does in theirs.... To each his own.

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O-H-I-O

Iam a SAHW with a business I cook breakfast on the weekend for Dh Saturday & Sunday,And during the weekdays.. he like Granola bar,fresh fruit, yogurt and orange juice.

I cook dinner 3 times a week and we eat out 4 times a week.we have no kids just Dh and I.

I cook breakfast 2-3 weekdays and one weekend day (before my son goes to work). Eggs sandwiches are the main fare. I pack lunches for the kids on school days and for my son on weekends that he works. I make dinner at home 4-5 nights a week. I work fulltime M-F, cover work-related e-mail and whatnot evenings and weekends, and almost never fully turn my brain off about it. Ugh.

So, no, I don't think it's strange to cook. But I am in awe that you're able to cook as often as you do and eat out as little as you do - KUDOS!!

cj/

ETA - I don't get the friend being mad at you - maybe she is really mad at herself. People have different strengths and things to offer; no need to compare.

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

"but i love to have them all eating around the kitchen table while I pack their lunches."

You sound like my mom. She LOVED mornings. I have WONDERFUL memories of mom making breakfast and the kids eating together.I was the youngest by 7 years but she would get me up with the older kids so we could have breakfast together. I had planned to do the same with I got married but cooking smells make my DH sick to his stomach in the morning.

It is just DH and I and we only eat out on the weekends. I do make easy things like stuff I throw into the crockpot a few times a week,,,not like we have amazing meals or anything!


I also think it is ridiculous that a friend is mad at you for all of this....as my sister says "Who owns this problem?" Certainly not YOU. She will get over it.

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Nutella,....
proving some of the best things in life come in a jar.

I dont' think it's any of her business who and when you cook..and to get made at YOU for it?? grow up!!

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Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers

I don't know why your friend would be mad at you, you did nothing wrong. She is probably upset that her DH is going to be expecting more out of her, then 3 or 4 dinners a week. I can't imagine eating out that many times a week
I am impress that you have the energy to get everyone off to school and cook breakfast every morning. I personally have enough trouble packing lunch, getting everyone dressed and gulp down a cup or three of coffee. But I probably wouldn't make a big breakfast even if I had the time, I just find most breakfast food.....well calorie ridden! Breakfast here is normally, fruit, cereal, oatmeal or toast.

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I also don't think it is strange to cook at home instead of eating out. I cook dinner 7 days a week. A couple days a month we bring dinner home. We have a family of 5 and I can cook better meals for much less then eating out. Now I would love to eat out more, but it just costs too much for us. As for breakfast I only cook once or twice a week. As for the other days its cereal, frozen waffles, etc... I think its great that you cook breakfast every day. As for the friend that is mad at you she should be mad at her dh for being mad at her. If he wants breakfast he can cook it. LOL

Same here - I'll cook breakfast on the weekend. And, I cook dinner every night. We usually go out once a week for dinner either Friday or Saturday.

I don't cook breakfast because we're not all here to eat it. DH leaves for work at 6:30 and takes a protien bar & piece of fruit - I also pack his lunch.

Oldest DD (13) gets herself ready while I'm getting ready and eats a bar, cereal, whatever she wants - sometimes cheese & crackers - she knows about nutrition and eats a healthy breakfast - just not a hot one. She makes her own lunch. I take her to school at 7:15.

Youngest DD gets ready and finds whatever she wants similar to oldest dd. Sometimes she will ask me to make her some bacon, which I will. I usually have a piece of toast or something with her. I take her to school at 8:15.

So, fixing breakfast would not work during the week around here with our schedules.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Well to tell you the honest truth, I am jealous because I wish I had it in me to do what you are doing. I think the reasons why your friend is mad at you is because she may feel "guilt" because of the way she handles her family eating arrangements. I know after reading your post I feel guilty. LOL but I am in no way mad at you over it, it just makes me think I should cook more then I do. I think it is nice that you do this for your family.

You are a good mom.

She is no friend if she gets mad about a simple thing as cooking. I also am in awe of you working FT and to cook so much. I wish I could motivate myself to cook more for breakfast instead of McD's. I do 6 nights a week for dinner.

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Laura
Please visit my blog
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I don't cook breakfast in the morning. I only have to worry about my 5 year old. She eats cereal or frozen pancakes/waffles. My oldest doesn't eat in the morning and neither does hubby. The baby eats about two hours after everyone's gone.


I do cook most nights, though. I WISH I was motivated and organized to cook breakfast, but I'm not.

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

I don't cook a big meal usually in the mornings because my dh and oldest dd leave together about 7:30 and neither of them are breakfast eaters. I force my dd to eat something! I will make my other dd and ds something to eat if they want something cook, such as eggs. But they mostly like to help me make it, like today the helped make banana bread for breakfast.

I bet all the husbands were giving you attention and that friend got jealous. It happens.

Rebecca

I cook EVERYDAY!!! Not saying I like to but I want the kids to start day off with good meal. I also pack lunches for them(some days son doesn't eat lunch because of interfering with his "play" time so I make sure to send him off with full belly). He absolutely refuses to eat cereal for breakfast. I guess that is my fault for always making breakfast but I sure would appreciate a morning off in the Summer, LOL. We rarely ever eat out. Maybe once every 3-4 months. My sister is the complete opposite. The boys get cereal every other week when they are at her house and she NEVER cooks. My son LOVES to spend the night so he can have pizza rolls and Mc'Donalds(YUCK).

I only cook breakfast one day on the weekend. If I do cook something for breakfast noone eats it. Like this morning I got up and made muffins (even made crumbles for the tops) and I was the only one to eat one.

We do eat out two or three times a week for lunch or dinner. Usually DH and I will eat lunch out once a week. We eat out as a famiily once a week. We have double cheeseburgers/McChickens from McDonalds $1 menu every Saturday for lunch. I cook a sit down meal normally 6 days a week. Of course if I'm having a bad week (healthwise) DH will suggest us go out that night.

Honestly, she doesn't sound like a very good friend if she got mad over you cooking breakfast. Even if it did upset her DH that she doesn't do it too.

Laura

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LOL, Carrie!

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Awww. I think they're all just jeolous!

On another note, I've had people *mad* at me several times over the years. Once was because I picked DS up from school and took him to Boy Scouts. Another boy told his mother, and she told me that I really put her in a pickle. Umm. Not my fault. LOL

I personally think that we should do everything we can (meaning like to do and are able to do) for our families. Different things work for different families.

Couponconnie, just shake it off and go on with your family. Enjoy each moment with them, and don't worry about what your *friends* think.

We don't do breakfast here. My husband did make a can of cinnamon rolls the other day but normally, no breakfast unless someone's hungry and grabs something. I don't buy cereal or pop tarts either. I can't eat until I've been up a couple hours, and last year I thought I'd cook the kids something for breakfast every morning before school and quit that within a week because I was throwing away so much food! Of course, they want to buy breakfast at school, $.90 for a small box of cereal! I don't let them, they could eat at home much cheaper, they just won't. Some mornings they'll grab a banana.

I can understand your friend JOKINGLY being "upset", I probably would be too if my husband complained because someone else's wife did things a certain way. He knows where the kitchen is

Jealous yes.

I dont eat breakfast at home, but have porridge at work (think 3 bears - oatmeal).

Girls always have breakfast, consisting of porridge or cereal, waffles etc...

We always cook dinner for the kids. ALWAYS. We have to

OK. Sometimes we order pizza for 4/5 of the family, but we always make 1 meal for one, kwim?

Big meals? Like pancakes? Daily.

Heaven!

Nah. Not heaven. I'd be, umm.... hmm... are they lowfat? Soymilk, perhaps, instead of cows milk?

Gluten free, even?

Jason

They are just jealous. I do like to cook breakfast..but usually don't except on weekends I will make pancakes or eggs, french toast..mostly because Dh isn't here, I don't eat breakfast, DD doesn't like a big thing for breakfast..but I do make DS something hot to go off to school. I get up to get him up, and he is 18 but HORRIBLE to get up in the morning..but I will make him an egg/cheese on a roll, or toast..or waffles that he can hold in the car..and a cup of coffee to go with a single serve OJ. He doesn't eat well, so at least I know he's getting something.

I used to get up each day when they were small, and make DH a hot breakfast, coffee, kids would eat waffles, cereal, before school, but they are older..and times change...(getting nostalgic..:::::sigh)

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

I think they're just jealous. When my sons were growing up, I made a good breakfast every morning plus a good homecooked dinner at night. When my son's girlfriend (now his wife), used to come over, she couldn't believe how we had a homecooked meal every night. She used to call us the Cleaver family! Now that she's married my son, she loves to cook and cooks a homecooked meal for him every night, too, even though she has a full-time job outside the home.

I actually miss cooking like I did. All the boys my sons ran around with loved to come to my house because I always fixed enough for everyone and there was always a dessert in the cake platter.

I wouldn't fret about it, OP. You're doing something that you and your kids will remember long after they're grown and moved out of the house. The other wives are just jealous!! (and the husbands are envious!)

I have thought about it OP and my hubby would be proud to call you his wife. LOL


*This post will self destruct in 5 secs* BOOOOM!!!!




Now he will never know that there is anyone on earth that cooks like this.

LMAO.......That's too funny!!

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#1 Red Wings....Stanley Cup winners 2008

By the way I showed my husband this post and his only question was why do you call me your dumb husband?DH


I laughed so hard I couldn't stand it.[/quote]

I can completely relate. I showed my DH a post I listed once and he asked why I called him a D. Head . I about fell on the floor laughing and just told him if the shoe fits...LOL.

- Jennefier

Here is my take on your so called "friend"......I think she is insecure in her own cooking abilities and that is why they eat out so often! My Dad is a fabulous cook and I was married to a chef for years, so I never had to cook! I finally made my first 'fancy' Christmas dinner last year (at age 40!)....and my Dad was in the kitchen the whole day holding my hand!

I have been 'forced' to learn to cook.....I started "Mom's New Recipe Night" in our house......about twice a month I pick a new recipe (the Let's Get Cooking board is wonderful) and we all try something different then discuss. We have found many favorites but there have been a few 'clinkers' too----(even the dog didn't like the Chicken Dorito casserole!)

I have started to enjoy cooking, but it was a struggle to learn (embarassing, complicated, etc etc) and it was so much easier to get take out or go out, but health wise and financially it was so much better for our family to learn to cook. My daughters are learning as teens so they won't be so 'culinary challanged' as their mother!

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"It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity."

I prefer D@mn Husband!

Don't little hubbys say the darndest things???

I am very jealous and its just me and my BF. Breakfast is grab what you want, same with lunch. Occasionally I will throw something in the crockpot or microwave for dinner . Maybe 2-3 days a week I get an urge to actually cook. I will admit I am lazy and like Carrie said in her post to her Dh...
if my BF is reading this... It's not happening (maybe if I get a ring LOL) but you know where the kitchen is if you want something and please please when you are done do the dishes
Couponconnie.. I give you alot of credit and I wish I could do what you do every morning. Your post inspired me to try and stop being so lazy. Your friend has no right to be mad at you, I think she is jealous. (sweetie, my dear boyfriend... if you are still reading this a ring would help motivate me more )

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