During the summer we have our two 16 year old nephews with us 5 days a week. Our home transforms from laid back and quiet to hectic and crazy, and we love every minute of it. Well … almost every minute!
One of the places I have struggled the most is in the kitchen. It seems that I barely get the dishes washed and the kitchen clean from lunch and then I am already starting supper again. I’ve never been a good multi-tasker and so this is what cooking spaghetti was like at the beginning of the summer …
I start cooking the hamburger and get water boiling. I remember to season the meat and am so proud of myself. I have a minute so I’ll go change a load of laundry. But I get sidetracked by another chore and forget, OH NO I have hamburger cooking. I get into the kitchen and the hamburger is burnt on one side and raw on the other, and it’s in one big clump. I break it up as best as I can and hope the boys don’t notice the burnt side. Sizzle, sizzle, splash! My water is boiling over in the pan and I burn myself as I take off the lid. But wait, the hamburger is still cooking too fast, I forgot to turn the temperature down. So I turn it down to barely on, I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to come back. I throw some spaghetti in the boiling water with a little oil to keep it from burning on. I go back to the meat and decide it’s good enough so I drain it and then mix with the sauce and heat it again. While the sauce is heating I realize that I forgot to set the table, so I quickly throw the dishes on the table but don’t get a chance to pour drinks because my noodles might be a little overcooked. I forgot to rinse the strainer from the meat, but hey it’s all going in the same place, right? So I dump the slightly overcooked spaghetti in the greasy strainer. Oops I forgot to turn off the sauce, I can smell it again. I’ve frazzled to the max and call the kids and husband for supper. They all come rushing in and swarm the table. Each person pours their own drink and I serve the plates, hiding the burnt meat in the bottom. We sit down and pray! AH finally a peaceful moment! But that peaceful moment ends all too quickly as everybody starts asking where the silverware is. Once the silverware crisis has been averted all is quiet for the next few minutes as the food is being consumed. One boy eats so fast he barely tastes a thing. The other boy pours hot sauce all over it. I just rememberd that I forgot the garlic bread, but it’s too late now so we’ll have to go without. We talk about our day a little and I enjoy their company but I can barely get any food down because my stomach is still in knots from the chaos not 5 minutes earlier. I ask if anybody wants seconds and they all say, “No thanks we’re not really that hungry”. They must have found the burnt hamburger. No more then 10 minutes after we started everybody has left the table and I am sitting there staring at mountains of dirty dishes and nearly in tears while they go and finish the movie they had started. I hear the dryer buzz in the distance.
I soon realized that this chaos and confusion was going to make my summer crazy, so I began to pray and ask God for his wisdom! My problem wasn’t that I had too much to do, it was that I poorly managed my time. Now every morning while sipping my tea I make a quick list of what needs to be done for the day. I do everything I absolutely can in the mornings while I have the most energy. ALL prep for meals is done as well. Spaghetti sauce is wonderful simmered in a crock pot all day! It is AMAZING how calm and peaceful the house is when I am calm and peaceful! I play soft Christian music all day long in the kitchen to help my peace of mind. It’s beautiful to hear the teenage boys singing along in the next room!
I’m sure I’m not the only person who has struggled with multi-tasking and keeping the house in order. What are some struggles you are dealing with? What do you find helps you manage your time better?
About Sarah @ Stand By Faith
