We have a stupid set up in our household. We’re a blended family: Me, DS, DP, DSS.
I’ll love food, love to try new things, will eat almost anything. My son was like that too. My DP will eat some things but prefers things served as they come with very little messing around: no salad dressing, little seasoning, no courgettes, no avacado, no couscous, no onions, no peppers… DSS prefers things plain, no sauce, not a bit of fat on meat, he likes butter, likes ketchup, likes bacon but not together: he hates it when meat feels “slimey”. But will have butter on toast. Doesn't like mushrooms, onions, seasoning, sauces but he does love fruit.
When the boys were little my DSS hated my cooking and would push his meal around his plate until DP made him something different. It got to the point I would make meals but keep the ingredients separate for DSS so that he could leave what he didn’t like and what he didn't like wouldn't spoil the food he did like. My DS picked up on this and began to make some of his own requests as he felt that DSS was getting special treatment. I now find myself having to consider every meal and how it can be prepared to suit everyone. DSS and DP usually eat at DP’s mum’s house Mon and Tues. DSS is meant to be at his mum’s house Wed, Thurs and Sat so during school time I only really need to think about DSS Fri and Sun. That was until DSS’s mum has become more unreliable and so now we have DSS additional days last minute (he hasn't been to his mums for the last month) so some days he eats at his grandmother’s and other times he’s home. If he eats at his grandmother’s then DP sometimes eats there too.
I find meal planning so stressful and now having to consider lunchtimes as well. We go on holiday in a couple of weeks, I didn't care where we went I only had one stipulation and that was I AM NOT COOKING.
DP and I had a falling out the other day because of something over lunch. I explained to him that I find food planning / cooking stressful and he told me that I’m being ridiculous and that I must mean a different word than stressful. But I do actually mean stressful, he doesn't understand.
Now I have to include that DP is a massively hands on Dad and goes above and beyond for DSS. He is renovating the house we live in and helping out with a house that I purchased earlier on in the year. He does his and his DS’s washing, ironing and will even clean and hoover (we both share theses jobs) Cooking is the only thing he doesn't do and its fallen on me as he does so much other stuff.
I just wanted to know if meal times is something other people get stressed over - or is it just me?