I try to take time to go to the food pantry after my children’s visits home.
@HarvestMoon1, I rarely eat bread at home, and my husband mostly just Packs it for lunch when he’s working, but we have been off for the last week. But we typically do buy whole wheat, if that’s what you are wondering.
Maybe feed the birds with it then!
I am the shower grinch! I keep saying, “five minutes, FIVE MINUTES!” and I’ll even knock on the door while S is in the shower. That elicits a loud" OK, OK, I HEAR YOU!" Bedroom lights are left on, and on, and on. This all makes an upcoming empty nest less lonely, right? 
Our grocery bill for the month–well guessing double and not checking.
I did spend about $500 a week before Christmas and every bit of that is gone.
Some I am guilty for as I wanted to send a ton of food home with S and DIL.
I cooked a 7 lb. ham, an 8 lb. Pork roast, and 5 lbs .of meatballs. All gone.
Sent a lot with the kids but also–just gone. This is the most meat I have ever cooked in my life.
We are out of nearly everything.
The dish washer has been run 2 times a day and the washing machine at least 2 times a day.
I feel tapped yet I made a load of food --all gourmet!–for D and her BF tonight.
They eat out often and H is easy.
Still-2 eggs left, D eats all of the popcorn which drives me nuts, and there is no interesting cheese left.
Having a party for 16 this weekend and cannot bring myself to plan, maybe in a few days.
^^wow, the thought of having a party makes me tired just thinking of it…where do you find the energy? It must be something you planned in advance? I always have good intentions of hosting a neighborhood get together , but never do in December…I’m just mentally not capable. I thought I would be up for it this year not working, but I’m still not.
D2 asked me over the weekend when I was going to do the laundry because she was running out of underwear. 
Count me among those who expect the kids to do their share…that being said, I enjoy cooking for them and I am looking forward to the next few days as I was not off of work leading into Christmas. Now I will have time to make better options. I also go with the grazing option, one actual meal with snacks, sandwiches, etc. that can be assembled and eaten whenever someone is hungry. Yes, the bills are higher but that goes away. Enjoy them while they are still willing and able to be home.
Amen Torveaux!!! <3
I love to cook and wish I had the kids home to cook for. SIGH…
^^big sigh here too.
D told me today that this is the last “long” break that she is going to spend with us. She’s back in grad school this year and has come to London to stay with us for almost 4 weeks. Two weeks into it and she’s already bored. So…this is my last chance to spoil her. Making all of her favorite meals, taking her shopping, doing her laundry. My credit card bill is going to show the damage, but it’s probably my last big chunk of time with her. OTOH, I’m sure I’ve got S around for several more years.
But, for now, it’s off to the corner shop for the 2nd time today - the kids used all the eggs for lunch and I wanted to make meatballs for dinner. Crazy, but fun times.
I am enjoying them…a lot. And I do enjoy making them happy with my home cooked meals. Because I don’t enjoy being a slave in the kitchen doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of them.
Different parents have the patience to teach the kids things. Mine have done their own laundry since each was 13, and have done tons of chores inside and out when they were here. I’ve tried getting them interested in cooking, but they never were. That is just one battle I didn’t have the energy to fight.
^^^This all makes sense and so true that some kids might be great house cleaners, but all thumbs in the kitchen or have no interest.
But if you are feeling like a “slave in the kitchen”, that IS unpleasant and should not be necessary! Does the thought that you have to constantly prepare meals come from your expectation or theirs? If it’s really not enjoyable and too much, it really is an easy problem to solve based on decisions you make or communicate. Can you find some middle ground? If they don’t like to cook, how about they take care of all the clean up, dishes? Or make grocery store runs?
I would be honest with them about the “slave in the kitchen” thing. I doubt that they want to make you feel that way.
Time for take-out!!!
I cook, they clean. It’s not always up to my standards, but they try (bless their hearts!) D is our head baker/candy maker. S is our chief hooverer (vacuuming) and errand runner. And at least I get to go back to work tomorrow!
“D2 asked me over the weekend when I was going to do the laundry because she was running out of underwear.”
That would be a pretty legitimate question in my house! Because we combine laundry to minimize water use, wear on the washer, and septic system shock. I put it in the wash, she sorts it into piles. All is good.
We do stay-cations for Christmas break, with dinners out, lots of theatre and movie tickets, museum jaunts, and doctor appointments interspersed. Mom gets a vacation too. Breakfast is self-serve, and plenty of eggs, oats, milk, coffee, ham, apples, broccoli, and coffee cake in house.
BB - in our case it is doing our laundry in our building’s laundry room. It takes me 2 hours to do one load or 5 loads. My coop does not allow us to have our own washer/dryer. Sometimes I wish they did, but to have access to multiple washers is a time saver.