I miss my kids! This week I talk about how I’m feeling with them away visiting grandma, and I share easy dinner recipes for the week too!
Hi there. How are you? I’m feeling super weird because my kids are gone. They left Wednesday morning to visit my mom in Maryland for 13 DAYS. That is so far and so long. If you had asked me how I felt about it a week ago, I would have said I was a little nervous but was looking forward to the quiet and freedom. Fast forward to a day before their trip, and I was a nervous wreck. The morning of their flight, I felt like crying and throwing up but somehow managed to not do either. They were nothing but happy and excited. It would have been nice if there was an ounce of “we’re going to miss you” thrown in, but nope. They couldn’t wait to get on that plane.
How’s it going so far?
The past two days have been the weirdest, longest days ever. I don’t know when I’ve had so much time alone without anyone to take care of. My schedule has been completely dictated by small people for the past nine and a half years, and I’ve never had them away from home for more than a few hours. I’ve gone on a couple trips for work, but then I’m completely out of my element and don’t feel like they are missing. Being home all day and night without them to deal with has left me feeling so confused, disoriented, and lonely. I hope it gets easier after a couple more days of this!
But don’t your kids make you weary?
The day before they left, I was getting onto the boys as much as ever. Quiet down. Sit and eat. Go to your room. I was wondering why I was so sad for them to leave when they were driving me so crazy. After they left, I felt like I was missing a very large part of myself. I thought of the analogy that if your arm hurts, you want it to stop hurting, but you don’t want to cut it off! You would miss it if it was gone, and an annoying arm is way better than no arm. Same goes for kids. Even when they drive you bananas, you still want them around! I love my kids so immeasurably much. No matter how frustrating, challenging, and difficult motherhood is (oh, is it ever), those boys are my everything. They are having a blast getting spoiled in Maryland, and my mom is giddy to have them there. I know this is a good thing, for them at least, and I’m going to survive!
Let’s get to the dinner recipes!
After two days with no kids, I should have gotten an amazing amount of work done already. Instead, I’ve just been in sort of a daze, skipping from one thing to the next without really finishing anything. I feel like I squandered my first two days of free time, but I’m going to make up for it today! First up is sharing seven easy dinner recipes for you to make this week. I really hope you find some you’d like to try.
- Sausage Stir Fry with Veggies over Rice
- Onion Burger Steaks with Brown Gravy
- Super Simple Red Chicken Chilaquiles Recipe
- Southwest Salad with Pork
- Skillet Sausage Succotash Recipe with Quinoa
- Slow Cooker Pork BBQ Pizza
- Creamy Dijon Shrimp Pasta
Want to add these recipes to your meal plan?
Click “save to meal planner” below, and then click here to customize your menu and create your custom grocery list.
January 1 Saturday Day 1 | January 2 Sunday Day 2 | January 3 Monday Day 3 | January 4 Tuesday Day 4 | January 5 Wednesday Day 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | ||||
| Dinner | ||||
 Sausage Stir Fry over Rice (3) |  Onion Burger Steaks with Brown Gravy (4) |  Southwest Salad with Pork (4) |  Slow Cooker Pork BBQ Pizza (4) |  Skillet Sausage Succotash Recipe with Quinoa (4) |
| Dessert | ||||
 Muddy Buddies Yogurt Parfait (1) |  Lemon Loaf Cake with Yogurt (12) | |||
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E.L. F. says
Thank you for the recipes, and big hugs, I am sure that it is tough without that constant interaction with your little ones, but it is a good chance for you and them to stretch your respective wings. I have not been daring enough to cook quinoa yet…but I just bought some to try. I’m not a fan of succotash or sausage, so I suspect I will be trying some other combination, lol. You are appreciated…and, if like your kids we don’t remember to say so…it is still true nonetheless!
Andi @ The Weary Chef says
You are so sweet <3 Thank you! What did you end up trying with the quinoa? I have several recipes here using it, so hopefully you found another one you liked. Thanks so much for being so kind and supportive!