Lost the will to sieve : (

Lizbetty

Hi everyone

I'm hoping that someone can help out as I'm in a terrible black hole at the moment. The breadmaker used to be on constantly, and I used to look forward to making tea, etc for the kids and OH. Now I DREAD it, my bm is only on when oh says he needs bread for sarnies, and the chickens we have just taken on are laying eggs left right and centre and I can't bring myself to DO anything with them

I used to love ordering from Tesco online and getting different stuff in, now I'm stuck in a rut and I just can't get enthusiastic about cooking again. I'm eating total rubbish myself, and making the kids and OH the same over and over.

I've been weaning dd2 (now 9months) and I'm maybe sick of mashing and trying to cook healthy different stuff for everyone, had a bit of PND which hasn't left me with much enthusiasm too. But my slow cooker which was supposed to be my lifesaver is in the cupboard having had a couple of bland disasters, which is a shame.

We don't eat much beef apart from mince, or much pork or any lamb, so it's difficult finding different things to do on such a tight budget (about £40/50pw for 4 of us).

Can anyone suggest a way to get out of this rut please?

All suggestions welcomed TIA

Lucy

HariboJunkie

First things first....Go easy on yourself. PND is no fun and neither is weaning a baby.

Have a look around some good recipe websites and see if anything inspires you.

Search on the SC thread on here and maybe if you have a succes it will encourage you to keep going. We all have non OS period when we get fed up. You'll soon be back among the fold.

Ps...love the thread title. You clearly haven't lost your SOH.

isme_2

Lucy, PND is awful, weaning babies isnt much fun either - be there will all 2 of mine.. The most important thing is that you keep talking, it will help.

morganlefay

Dear Lucy, be kind to yourself. You've been being a fab Mum/shopper/cook/wife etc etc and now the latest DD has got you tired and not up to your own high standards. I am a new Gran and my own DD is struggling with a wonderful DD of her own, but who really can't be bothered to sleep. My DD feels like you do. She used to love cooking and ordering interesting things online, she even used to like playing with her new washing machine, but now she's just surviving. I had twins and I know what that's like, and it's horrible. But don't beat yourself up, just make what you can of every day, and cuddle the children a lot. My DD has a group of new friends who all had babies within about a month of each other - they are a great help to each other since they all have different things going on, and she feels there's always one of them who is feeling like she does at any given moment (even when that's fairly rock bottom) lean on your friends (or 'invisible' friends on here), ignore the dust, and for the time being the rubbish food, cuddle the children a lot, sleep when you can, and above all recognise that you're doing a hard job for which women have no training and somewhat less support than we need, and give yourself several pats on the back. You're a star - as are all new Mums, but it's sometimes hard to remember.
My daughter has a photo of her DD taken just after bath time, all snuggly and warm and SWEET in her fluffy towel, smiling sleepily. She looks at it when things are being ghastly, veg puree all over floor, baby screaming, phone and front door bell going etc etc, and she says it cheers her up to remember that it's not always like that ! be patient with yourself, and kind.
BIG hug, M

Paulie'sGirl

Lucy,

I have no advice, just a big hug :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

Don't be hard on yourself though, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate. That's a complicated juggling act. Anyone would find it hard pet.

Bug hugs from PG xx

Skint_Catt

What about trying something simple in the SC to get you back into it. Not very OS but howabout a Bisto casserole jar with sausages/Quorn sausages? Or cooking an old favourite you haven't had for a while - or getting your OH to cook it

FunkyFairy

PND is no fun. I have had it for the past 3 years but i am 100% better than i was. If you need to chat you can message me.

The slow cooker is my life saver. I put frozen meat in it in the morning with veg, onion, gravey granuals and water. Then come tea time a lovely meal is ready with out me having to really think about it.

I also use things like condenced soup with chicken.

Hope it helps and try not to beat yourself up to much its is a illness remember that.

Olliebeak

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: to you, Lucyeff. I was so lucky that I only had those silly 'baby blues' after all three of mine - and that was bad enough. You have my utmost sympathy for your PND.

You don't say how old your dd1 is - is she at school yet? I know that if you've got 2 under school age, then your home can seem like a prison at times especially if the weather is not very good. Are you in a position to get out and meet some other mums in your neighbourhood? What I would suggest is that you make a real effort to try to get out into the fresh air as much as possible - it's amazing how much better you can feel after a few lungfuls of clean air. Obviously you would need to make sure that the baby and yourself are well wrapped-up against any wind and rain (as well as your other daughter if she is very young). Are there any mum and baby groups close to where you live - the support of other young mothers is very important when you're feeling so down?

If you can force yourself to get the SC out and have another go, it could take so much of the pressure off you as regards preparing an evening meal. And if you do something that isn't very highly spiced, you could mash (or 'whizzie' with a stick blender) some of it for the baby that you're weaning.

Have a go with some onions, carrots, potatoes, minced beef (browned in frying pan first to remove excess fat) with some mixed herbs and a couple of oxo cubes dissolved in half a pint of boiling water - maybe even a tin of chopped tomatoes. Leave it alone for about 5 - 6 hours on low and thicken with some gravy granules (or dried mash potato) if needed.

If you can't manage to find a use for the eggs that your hens are providing, how about passing them on to one or two pensioner neighbours (older people on their own are usually grateful for a couple of fresh eggs as sometimes a box of 6 is too many for them) - and it would give you somebody to talk to.

And most of all - keep in touch with us on here. We may not be able to offer practical help but we can give a listening ear and help you to try to keep a sense of humour while you're going through this horrible time.

Ollie :wave:

frogga

Just want to send you big hugs xxxx:grouphug: oh flip is that the threesome? oops:o perhaps I'll just make you a cup of tea instead........:coffee: phew!

I know it's easier said than done, but don't be so hard on yourself. We call it PSD where I come from (Post Spawning Depression) and I suffered a little when I had the Tadpoles. Give yourself a break Lucy, there are worst things you could do , or not be doing as the case may be.

My ald Dad use to say to me , "if you've got to the end of the day and they are clean and fed then you've done brilliantly" Mind you he didn't half talk a load of carp!:rotfl:

Gingham_Ribbon

How much time do you get to yourself or with your OH, just the 2 of you? Do you have nights out with friends? You may be in need of some proper rest and relaxation. It's not a cure all, especially for PND, but it certainly can help. I am finding it hard to find the time to cook and clean and generally get things done at the moment and I find it a struggle to get the kids out to play. But when I get a break, however short, I do find it picks me up a bit.

Then, once you've had a decent sleep and some time out, maybe you could ask your OH to take the children for a few hours while you do some batch cooking?

Hang in there. x

Psykicpup

:grouphug: Aww hunny have a big hug from me! You're doing just fine you know - its a hard tiring time & you should be proud of yourself!:A
As the weathers getting colder now its the perfect time to dig out the slow cooker for some old fashioned stews & casseroles! I'd be a little wary of using oxos & gravy granules if your using home food for weaning as they can be very high in salt as I'm sure you know!
Just chop up some winter veg such as onions carrots potatoes swede parsnip what ever you have or like, brown some cheap meat (braising steak is my favorite), :T chuck it all in the slow cooker with some hot stock & leave all day
You could serve with mash or dumplings & would puree down well for bubs.
You can vary it from day to day by using chicken or sausages or whatever & by changing the vegs - tomatoes & mushrooms go well with chicken or sausages
Or how about some pasta or rice based dinners like spag bol or curry - granted bubs prob cant have curry but if you take a little out before adding the spices/curry mix its would be ok I think
Have a look on ebay or freecycle for one of those mini food processers or a stick blender - makes pureeing (sp) much easier too & as Gingham Ribbon suggests have a night off & pamper your self a bit, maybe go on a date with OH just for fun!:D