Modern Motherhood Musings

You’re reading Modern Motherhood Musings, a weekly newsletter written from one mom to another. Each week I share an honest reflection on motherhood, and a collection of things bringing me joy. I’m passionate about community, and I hope that by sharing our stories, we all feel a little less alone.

📝 This week’s musing…

If one of the more stressful parts of parenthood is the never-ending cycle of feeding your family, you’re not alone.

It’s a constant process of taking inventory, meal planning around that week’s activities, grocery shopping, finding the time to actually cook, and then fighting the inevitable battle of kids who aren’t hungry or don’t like what you’ve made.

My kids are usually hungry right at 5 p.m. and borderline monsters by 5:30 p.m. so I’ve started to stress less about what I’m feeding them, and focus more on what I can quickly get on a plate - fish sticks, chicken nuggets, quesadillas.

There’s no such thing as a toddler who isn’t picky, so let’s let go of the stress of well rounded meals and refined pallets. The more Ketchup the better I say, as long as they’re eating!

The boys sit at the kitchen island to eat, while I start making dinner for the adults and it’s become my favorite part of the day. I can decompress and do something creative, while also spending time with the kids. It feels like we’re actually “doing dinner together.”

Brandon and I eat later, but it’s usually some version of eating in shifts while the other one plays referee or cleans up the latest spill.

I haven’t found the magic trick to take the stress out of dinnertime, but, I have found a few things to make it easier…

• Use a shared iPhone note as your grocery list. This makes it easy for you or your spouse to update it as soon as something runs out.

• Frozen rice is your friend! It cooks in the microwave in 5 minutes, and you can throw any veggies or protein on top to make a bowl.

• Make sheet pan meals, they always involve the least amount of dishes.

• Any night of the week is good for a front-yard picnic. The kids eat better, and cleanup is easier.

• A neighbor of ours started hosting weeknight pizza parties. Everyone has to eat, we might as well do it together while the kids run around.

• Almost anything can be rolled up into a tortilla and called a “taco”, increasing the odds your kids will eat it.

My dream is to be a family that sits down together to eat, and maybe one day we’ll get there, but it’s just not the chapter of life we’re in and that’s ok.

No season of raising kids lasts forever so do what’s going to be best for you and your family right now, it can always look different later!

If you’re in a recipe rut, below are some of my go-to weeknight favorites:

• Picadillo Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Smashed Avocado

• Egg Roll Bowl

• Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli Bowls

• Instant Pot Chicken and Vegetable Soup

• Sheet-Pan Shrimp Fajitas

I’d love to know what some of your favorite weeknight meals are! Email me and let me know.

✨ Friday Favorites…

🥧 Margaritas are my favorite cocktail (especially when they’re spicy), and pies are the best summer dessert IMO. This Frozen Margarita Pie combines the best of both worlds to make one refreshing and seriously addictive treat!

• Pro tip: stick a metal bowl in the freezer for 5 minutes and use it to whisk your whip cream. You’ll be shocked at how much easier it’ll be to make.

🥳 Y’all, I am terrible at documenting milestones, but these First Day of School and It’s My Birthday pendants from Target are so cute that I might be able to feel semi-prepared next time.

🎸 I was introduced to The Red Clay Strays through a Spotify playlist this week and I love them! They’re a little bit bluesy, a little bit rock, and a little bit country. Check out Wondering Why and Do Me Wrong.

👯‍♀️ From one mom to another…

Your words of wisdom, best piece of advice, and favorite hacks can make a difference in another mom’s journey. What has helped you survive this season? Email me to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

Thanks for reading this week’s edition of Modern Motherhood Musing!

Happy Friday, Friends!