less stress, more creativity
Happy Home Life Tip #23
When family life starts getting chaotic…it’s the perfect time for some creativity and connection.
Instead of getting stressed-out and overwhelmed…
Call a family meeting.
Explain the situation.
Ask for everyone’s input and ideas. (Yes, even input from little ones.)
And have some fun coming up with a new plan.
Here’s how that looked at our house:
Several years ago, after just moving to New Hampshire, with a new 60- hour a week Farm Manager job, plus evening barn chores to do at home, a husband who worked extremely long hours, and a house full of kids for the summer, I found myself too frazzled to cook dinner each night.
So, I requested each person take a night of the week to plan and prepare dinner.
I’d still cook 3 nights and do the weekly shopping, but if there was an ingredient they needed, they have to go get it, or be the driver for our youngest, who was 12.
It was decided the chef could pick the menu, didn’t have to clean up, and that no one could criticize the meal.
That’s all I asked for…but I got so much more!
I pictured people making the same, simple thing each week.
Instead I got phone calls at work asking,
“Do we have an immersion blender?”
“Can I dig up the sod in the side yard?”
“Have you made the recipe where the dough rises 3 times?”
“Can I cut your flowers?”
Our new plan seemed to have taken on a life of its own; somehow our sons had turned it all into a friendly competition.
They came up with lavish creations and constantly tried to outdo one another, but always without being critical or mean-spirited.
(My husband wasn’t surprised…but I was, having grown up with only sisters!)
The immersion blender was used for a homemade soup appetizer…
the sod removal turned into a garden where one son learned to grow his own ingredients…
the dough turned into our new favorite triple-rising cinnamon buns…
and our flowers became beautiful centerpieces.
So what’s my point in telling you this?
By asking for help and not letting myself feel guilty that I couldn’t do it all, I ended up creating stronger family connections, a less chaotic household, and wonderful summer memories.
Making dinners became fun, instead of a chore.
We laughed. A lot.
We tried new recipes.
We gently teased each other.
We ate at the table with candles and placemats, and plates rarely used.
Each child became a better cook.
Each one learned new skills, and felt more valued.
Everyone got to make what they really liked.
Two sons learned to garden.
We had a ball digging for homegrown potatoes.
One son, studying economics, prided himself on making the quickest and cheapest meals.
Dad became Master-of-the-Grill.
And I enjoyed cooking again.
Our plan worked so well for many years, that even our yet-to-be daughter in-law (who couldn’t cook at all) was assigned a night, when she came from England one summer to work at the resort our family managed.
And, because not much grows in northern New Hampshire, we all learned to eat a lot of homegrown kale!
Hugs,
Krista
Photo story: Digging for potatoes in the garden that first inspired our son’s gardening passion. He and his wife now own a 31 acre Vermont farm where, yes, they still grow a lot of kale!