I have a large family and I’m the only one who cooks, ever. I do enjoy it admittedly but I cook for my family and dish up everyone’s before myself (which is standard I think) but by the time I sit down to eat almost everyone else has finished. Not a problem in itself but I can never actually eat my own meal. Because everyone else has finished my DH is usually off to the kitchen to help himself and little ones to dessert or strumming his dam guitar, the little kids are on at me for drinks, playtime etc and the older kids have fucking vanished. I’ve just served a full roast pork dinner with perfect crackling, roast potatoes, homemade stuffing and yorkies and 4 veg. I was the last one to sit at the table while the rest of the family have been chatting, eating, laughing and playing little games, and I hadn’t taken two bites of my dinner before the two youngest were hanging off me trying to play because everyone else had gone. I cook because I like to, but also because I like to eat what I’ve made and it feels like years since I’ve eaten a decent meal whilst hot or warm at the very least, never mind being harassed at the same time. I’ve attempted to implement stuff over the years such as no dessert until EVERYONE had eaten and finished, or we all stay at the table to clear after dinner and THEN we do games but I feel bloody invisible at times and it seems everyone gets the benefit of my efforts but me. I’ve raised this with DH and older kids a lot and nothing has changed so I’m very tempted to go ‘on strike’. Everyone can fend for themselves except littles, husband can feed them, and I’ll make whatever I fancy when I fancy for my own dam self without worrying about who likes what or how they like it cooked and serving only myself after young ones have gone to bed so I can bloody well eat AND LIKE IT!