When I was little, I’d ask my mom if I could help her “cook”, but as dicing or julienning vegetables was deemed too dangerous, I was demoted to Chief Rice-and-Produce-Washer. (Hated it. Booooring.) When I hit the double-digits in years, I was sometimes allowed to sauté or stir-fry (with repeated warnings, of course, to watch my wrists over the hot pan edges, which warnings, it seems, were not as effective as accidentally doing it once). When I was a teen and Mom would actually invite me into the kitchen to watch, help and learn, I couldn’t care less. So I didn’t pay any attention to what I was doing, if I accepted the invitation at all.
Fast forward a decade and somehow I got married…and even popped out a few kids. And lo and behold, overnight, I became Head Cook! (Say wha?!) (Side note: Hey single ladies, give that bachelor neighbor of yours who can cook, or better yet, likes to cook, a second glance. He’s probably “the one.” Just sayin’.) Anyways, as soon as I was held accountable for the sustenance of other people (tell me about pressure, man), Mom and I became best (telephone) friends (BTFF’s) and our convos generally went like this:
Me, trying to sound as cool and casual as possible: “Hey Mom, how do you make _________ again? Oh, and __________?”
Her regular response was, “Aigoo chamneh” (translation: “ugh, are you kidding me?”) See?! Why you didn’t watch and learn when you libbing at da home with us?”
“Uh, I dunno, Mom. Because hindsight’s a [bleep]?”
So NOW, I have a little one constantly begging to “help” me in the kitchen, and it’s hard as heck figuring out what she can do that’s safe and actually helpful. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree either – she too complains that washing the uncooked rice or produce is boooring. So, already busy enough flying about the kitchen (and mildly desperate for help), I’ve promoted her to Head Stirrer…at age 7! (Talk about movin’ up in the world real quick, right?)
And so continues my confused love-hate relationship with Cooking. Sometimes I love him, sometimes I hate him. Generally, I vacillate between instantaneous agony upon hearing a cheerful, “What’s for dinner?” (at which point, I muster every ounce of self-restraint to resist groaning, “Uggghhhhh. Must you eat dinner every day?”), and proud satisfaction upon getting a “Mommy. I love your cooking. It’s the best” (at which point, my innards collapse and I sheepishly blush, “Okay, okay. What would you like Mommy to make you? Anything. Just ask.”)
Suckerrrrrr.
Love your blog! So relatable and I agree, I have a love hate relationship with cooking! I recently started Blue Apron and it makes part of my weekly cooking so much easier.
One of my closest neighborhood friends is hooked on Blue Apron and raves about it too. I really should try it. Have tried Dream Dinners but with hit and miss results…and feedback from DH.
LOL. I feel ya sister. Like I always confess to other moms– I cook not because I LIKE to but because I HAVE to. I have my typical menus that thankfully my kids like to eat and 90% of them are from my mom. I can’t cook with recipes because the whole measuring and weighing stresses me out more than the cooking itself. Luckily my family likes Korean- which makes my job easier because I can cook a big pot of chicken soup or oxtail soup, or whatever soup and just heat it up with a side of rice and fish or something. Then I can purchase the rest– like occasional pizzas and burgers. In an ideal world I should cook healthy fish with steamed veggies (which really isn’t that hard at all) but it’s the cooking every meal thing that I find impossible to overcome.
And your bangs don’t look that bad. I can’t even tell its cut by your son’s stylist. 😉
The worst is when your kid asks what’s for dinner and you answer and the response is an unenthusiastic “Oh…” I want to snap at them and say “Fine! YOU cook dinner for everyone. EVERY day. And I’LL critique YOU.” Instead I just established a rule that they can’t ask what’s for dinner and whatever I serve, they’re going to LIKE. Boy, it’s hard trying to cook healthy for your family AND make them like it.
Ha! I tell my kids the same thing – that they don’t get to complain if they’re not the ones cooking. I like your new rule! May implement it myself – thanks, L! 🙂
I sometimes hate/love him too. But I always hate his bratty children: “cleaning” & “dishwashing”.
Oh yes, forgot about dem children. lol