The Best View Comes After the Hardest Climb.

Buffythedebtslayer

Sun_Addict said:

Sometimes I get so fed up of the whole day revolving around cooking Mr SA’s meals although on the plus side he is grateful for whatever I make him. I’d be inclined to cook something then if your mum doesn’t want it then tough. 

She is grateful in the end, it was just the horror about cheese, cold meat and crackers (clearly am trying to kill her) and expectation that I will come in from "work" and cook dinner to her specifications that really wound me up. The other thing is she had been consulted this morning about food today, she was fine with it then, but had to speak to my sister and so skipped lunch which made her hungry and grumpy! I did offer food at lunch time but she won't eat before chatting (I have NO idea why) 

Am fine now. had a snow ball and going to eat a LOT of chocolate. And more snowballs. 

badmemory

To be honest I'd go lazier than Jellytots & just buy frozen mash @ less than 25p a portion only about 4 mins in a microwave.  I used to put slices of left over joint in deliberately left over gravy & boil it up in a small pan.  Then all you need is some veg.  Cauli 3 mins in the microwave & I assume broccoli is the same but I hate the stuff.  10 minutes full meal on the table - job done.  You won't feel anywhere near as bad if you've only spent a couple of minutes making a meal if she turns her nose up at it, as you would if you have spent an hour.

beanielou

I use frozen mash sometimes.  'Tis fab when I am really tired.

Buffythedebtslayer

Jellytotts said:

If she likes mash, then cook a huge pan full then portion it up (you can get the foil trays with cardboard lids in Poundland etc) and freeze. You can cook it from frozen, pop it in whilst the oven is warming up to cook a pie, give it a stir half way through and it's far less hassle.

We got a huge load of potatoes from the Olio app this week so I've boiled loads, mashed them and filled every container we have.  Much easier to have "building blocks" of food available for ease.  I was going to do a risotto tonight but couldn't be faffed so a dish of mash went in the halogen for 25 mins, I steamed some veg, heated up some gravy and dished it up with cold meat (I don't faff with heating the meat but it could go in the gravy to heat through). You could freeze meat sliced in gravy too and it can pop in the oven at the same time as the mash....

She loves mash. I do not. but it would help so much on those night I don't want dinner. I didn't know you could freeze it. I will add this to my notebook on tips from you guys. I do appreciate it and have more or less got a handle on the freezer so there will be space available. 

I wonder if I could be so organised. 

badmemory

beanielou said:

I use frozen mash sometimes.  'Tis fab when I am really tired.

Exactly.  I suspect that Buffy is almost always feeling tired.  But I also suspect that the tired feeling is not so much feeling tired as feeling drained.

crazy_cat_lady

As badmemory says - drained rather than tired. I think that's what has happened to me since school finished. You never get a break though being at home with your mum.
Much love as always...

Buffythedebtslayer

badmemory said:

To be honest I'd go lazier than Jellytots & just buy frozen mash @ less than 25p a portion only about 4 mins in a microwave.  I used to put slices of left over joint in deliberately left over gravy & boil it up in a small pan.  Then all you need is some veg.  Cauli 3 mins in the microwave & I assume broccoli is the same but I hate the stuff.  10 minutes full meal on the table - job done.  You won't feel anywhere near as bad if you've only spent a couple of minutes making a meal if she turns her nose up at it, as you would if you have spent an hour.

This is true. The quicker it is to make, the less bothered I am. 

Sun_Addict

I use the packet mash for Mr SA, just add boiling water, he likes it, job done. 

Buffythedebtslayer

badmemory said:

beanielou said:

I use frozen mash sometimes.  'Tis fab when I am really tired.

Exactly.  I suspect that Buffy is almost always feeling tired.  But I also suspect that the tired feeling is not so much feeling tired as feeling drained.

I think the problem I have is that for months we will tick along ok, so I did Hello fresh and it was great........until it wasn't.............Then I cooked (some of the skills I learnt from Hello Fresh) that was great.........untill...............Currently we are on the ready meals for two from Sains bugs........I wonder how long for?? 

And that is the stress. I could cope if I thought the food could ever work. And I HATE that my limited time is spent pointlessly cooking. She isn't an ogre, but she simply will not make anything easy. I listed off all the stuff I was going today, I told her what food was available and when, I came and offered food at points - no, she was fine so off I went only to come back later to find her hungry and annoyed cos I hadn't been in to bring food etc. I did ask her if she had forgotten where the kitchen was!! 

beanielou

Buffy.  I think you have to be harder.
You give your maw too many choices.
Give her what you have made/have in the fridge/ is easy for you.
If your maw chooses not to eat it/does not like it then IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.
To be blunt if your mum was receiving any kind of care she would have no choice as to when or what to eat.