Domestic Goddess - but at what cost?!

[Bomper]

Today, I have made a homemade Shepherds Pie and homemade baked rice pudding for lunch and was feeling very proud of myself, as I had also mananged to wash up the breakfast things and get all the laundry sorted. Then, I glanced through the arch from my kitchen to the Living room and realised dd2 had been playing on her own for over an hour with just CBeebies and her toys for company!! Obviously, I had been close by but not really with her IYSWIM.
I really want my children to have a healthy unprocessed diet, but where do you find the time to do everything and stimulate and amuse your children?!

sounds great. where's the problem?

I don't think it's a problem if she was playing, only if she (like my ds would have been) was staring at cbeebies for the entire time.

If it's just me and ds, I have to turn tv on to spend any sort of time in the kitchen (he's nearly 2) and I hate it so much I've tried cooking now while he's either asleep or in the evenings. Having healthy food is important to me, but there aren't enough hours in the day.

Is this the only cbeebies she's had all day? If so I wouldn't panic. If it was on since 6 then I might worry. I try to balance it out by being a domestic goddess 5 days a week and having 2 off.

Oh and let us know how the rice pudding is, I've always wanted to know how to make one!

Feel dead guilty at spending all my time in the kitchen and ignoring dd2. My mum was the same, ahe made us lovely meals but hardly ever played with us. Just wondering how you get the balance right or if it's not possible!!

Lunavix - I do try to limit the time she watches CBeebies, however, she knows how to turn the tele on herself now, so it's a constant battle of wills The rice pudding is a Gary Rhodes recipe - will let you know how it turns out!!

My nan used to tie my dad to the washing line pole while she did her housework, so I don't think an hour of cbeebies will have done any damage. She would have let you know when she had had enough, why else do we buy toys?

I don't see the problem either, my 2 regularly do this. Good for you!

we are lucky to have a table in my kitchen AND a telly so my two usually make stuff/draw/watch tv WHILE I am cooking.

if you feel guilty then turn the telly off and play with her for half an hour - let her choose what you play.

My ds would watch tv all day given half a chance, when the house is full of kids he plays, when it's just me he really doesn't like it - he's very independent and I think he views me playing with him as some sort of dependence on me. He won't come and 'play' in the kitchen with pots and pans etc (like childrearing gurus suggest) but then it's only 2 days out of 7 anyways that he can watch too much tv (have house full of kids 3 weekdays, plus we're always out weekends)

I don't think you should panic too much... I think the limit for kids for tv is 2 hours a day? As long as it's not over that, or at least not every day you'll be fine!

I find it hard aswell,as I work part time and Ive split with my DDs dad.

I leave the kitchen door open, so she can walk back and forth, playing with "her" cupboard, taking things out and back in.

I bulk make food, when I do a pot of spag bog, I freeze some. I know all the parenting books tell you to do this, but it does work.

I accept that sometimes cbeebies is the only answer, its not the end of the world, and its not as if its all the time

I also accept that no one is a domestic goddess

I do the same and so did my mum too. I just liked being around her and 'helping'. She used to play with me too, but not all the time.

My preschool children do the same ie hang about me and help with stuff. That in itself is amusing and stimulating to them. They also play and yes cbeebies and sometimes videos are in the mix too. It's life. We play with them too and take them places as well.

I think it's important they learn to entertain themselves and don't expect my undivided attention all the time or a full on day of planned fun all the time.

Lunavix - the Rice Pudding was DELISH!! Do you want the recipe (or will I get sued by Gary Rhodes if I put it on here?!! )

Message withdrawn

dammit I thought this was going to be another Anthea thread [disappointed icon]

TBH I don't seem to spend any time focussing on dd2. Ds and dd1 get most of it, because of school work, clubs, being able to talk!! Just feel sorry for the poor little buggar. S'pose that's what comes of being the third child!!

This sounds like most of my mornings Bomper. I get as much as I can done first thing as that's when dd's is engrossed in the TV and eating her brekkie, and not wanting me to be "lady in the shop" or whatever.

And I'd like the rice pudding recipe too please . My lot are mad for rice pudding, but whenever I've tried to make it I've ended up with a black mess.

another one who doesn't see the problem - I do mainly limit TV to 1 hour a day for dd (3.5) whilst ds is asleep (only because if it's on whilst they are both around we have huge arguments about who is going to stand closer). Playing by herself is a very important skill to learn.

But if you are bothered, involve her in cooking - if she's old enough to turn the TV on she's old enough to "chop" a carrot with a blunt knife. Or put peeled potatoes into a pan of water, or mix ingredients. Dd loves "helping" me cook, and is nowactually becoming quite useful.

If my mother had sat and played with me the whole time I'd have thought she was stark staring mad and I probably would've been too.

Children should be left alone and given the opportunity to be bored. There is too much pandering to the little blighters these days.

Lunavix, rice pudding is the simplest thing in the world to make!

Grease an open pudding dish. Put in 2.5 oz of pudding rice, 1 oz of sugar and 1 pint of milk. Grate some nutmeg on top.

Cook in the oven for 2 hours at 150 C (GM 2)

I am sure modern cooks jazz it up with cream and so on, but you can work that out for yourself.

It is absolutely foolproof.

Lol that's the spirit Hunker!

I've been having a major clear out this weekend (hormone fueled) thankfully DH has been here and DS went to his gran's...but this is one of the reasons we usually have a messy house... I feel so guilty leaving him alone... and DD just cries lol..... the trick is to stay up after the kids are in bed (till about 1am should do it) and pre-prepare food to cook (freeze it) and do all the chores. Yes, some people really do this, I'm giving it a shot to see if it kills me or ups my metabolic rate, might let you know what happens

Ok here's the recipe - very similar to Dumbledoresgirl's one.

Baked Rice Pudding (Serves 4-6)

100g (4oz) short-grain pudding rice
450ml (3/4 pint) milk
450ml (3/4 pint) single cream
50g (2oz) caster sugar
25g (1oz) butter, unslated
Freshly grated nutmeg

Pre-heat the oven to 180c/Gas Mark 4 and butter a 1.5 litre(2 1/2 pint) pudding or pie dish. Wash the rice and place in the dish. Warm the milk and the cream together and pour over the rice. Sprinkle the sugar over the rice and stir in. Dot with the butter and grate fresh nutmeg over the top. Bake for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 150c/300f/Gas Mark 2 and bake for a further 1 hour 20 minutes/1 hour 30 minutes. The pudding will now have a golden brown topping, with rich creamy rice pudding underneath. This eats beautifully with a dollop of ice-cream.

He also says you can make the pudding with all milk if you want or even using double cream for a richer finish. For a very thick pudding the cooking time can be taken as far as 2-2 1/2 hours, but the time quoted here keeps the rice slightly looser and, I think, more enjoyable.

Give it a go - it's yummy!!!

Thanks! I will give that a go next time dsd is here and report back.