Mom On Strike!

After a couple of weeks

of

whining about each meal

that's been prepared;

complaining even,

about which restaurants to go

for dinner;

and more obnoxious opinions

about take-out even--

I

have

had

it.

I didn't make dinner tonight.

When the 14yo asked me,

"what's for dinner?"

I told her she could make herself

anything she wanted.

"I'm not cooking dinner tonight.

Make your self a peanut butter n jelly sandwich."

Have eggs and toast."

Her eyes widened in shock.

Her mouth dropped open in disbelief:

"You can't do that! You always--well, that's,

uh, your job as a Mom!" she protested.

"I'm not a doormat.

And lately, noone has said my two favorite words:

THANK YOU.

So, no, I am not cooking dinner again

until I get some appreciation.

I'm taking Dad to Carl's Jr. when he gets home

and you kids can fend for yourselves tonight."

"Order Pizza then!" she refuted.

"Nope, even when I order take-out, you guys complain about

where I order it from. I'm not doing it."

She looked at me in disbelief

and went down to the kitchen.

She ordered Pizza herself.

Paid for it with her own

babysitting money.

I suggested to each of the kids

that they write a dinner menu out

for me,

with 10 suggestions on it each.

The Caboose asked if she could just write:

LASAGNA

down 10 times.

Nope.

Daisie wanted

Shrimp Scampi and Steak on there too.

Nope.

And not cold cereal

and corn dogs every night

either.

And whichever meal I make,

the person who suggested it

has to help prepare it

and clean up afterwards.

Period.

I'm planning on buying a few more loaves of bread

and bringing another couple of jars of peanut butter and jelly

up outta food storage.

It's gonna be a long week.