Anybody got much "Mr. Mom" experience?

[ditchparrot]

That's my reality as of early this morning, as my wife took off for Arizona to start her new gig next week, leaving me, our 8-year-old daughter and all of our dogs behind temporarily. We'll be here until the house sells, however long that takes.

I can keep a place pretty well cleaned up and I'm excellent at doing laundry (I've insisted on doing my own ever since college). I'm not much of a cook, though, and that's my biggest concern. My kid loves Taco Bell and McDonald's, and both are within a mile of our home. I'm afraid she's going to talk me in to visiting those places frequently.

We'll survive this – somehow. My wife will send me a dozen-plus reminders every day and I'll have at least that many questions about where this or that is or how something is done. It might all make for some funny stories ... someday.

[BrokenolMarine]

Mayonaise chicken...
My kids loved it, easy to make, simple clean up...

Line a baking pan with foil, spray with pam, set oven at 450
Use you favorite chicken parts, legs, thighs, breasts... skin on or off.
Coat in mayo, really slim it on. (Substitute ranch or italian dressing, blue cheese, whatever) add salt and pepper... if desired..
Crush ritz crackers (put them in a zip lock bag and beat them or use a rolling pin...) then coat the chicken in the crumbs...
Lay in the pan
Cover with foil
Bake 45 minutes
Uncover
Broil five to ten for crispy coating

I made instant mashed potatoes and corn on the cob...
Success..

[daytime dave]

I raised both my children all alone since they were in second and fourth grades respectively. When I divorced their mother, my lawyer taught me how to do laundry, the only skill I did not possess at the time.

You can do it and you must. Make it fun. Don't stress over the small stuff. Find ways to make your cooking like the fast food joints, but much healthier. BrokenolMarine's recipe sounds like a winner. I wish I had it then. Chicken patties were my go to food for the kids in a pinch.

Try to enjoy the time and don't panic in stress. I did and wish I hadn't. It's tough, but that's when the tough get going.

PM me if you get stuck.

Dave

[BrokenolMarine]

Same here, email me if you'd like a couple more favorite recipes...
Multi-task while there is down time during cooking... (stuff in the oven for example) ...
Use that time to fold clothes, wash dishes dirtied while cooking, or vacuum, change linens, etc.
A day's work can be knocked out in three hours or so with coordination of effort.
That frees up the rest of the time to spend with the family..
Woodworking, fishing... whatever... lol.

[clovishound]

Been there, done that. Cooking is not that big a deal. There are lots of convenience foods out there that take little prep and aren't too bad. Some your daughter may like. As has been said before, don't sweat the small stuff. If nothing else, you may find some situations that you will both laugh at years from now.

[albin25]

Way past Mr. Mom ...I'm "SIR MOM" now.

Wife had a real prime job with a law firm so we decided I'd be the stay at home parent and sell the transmission shop.
Did it for 20 years, kid's now 26 and at Texas State U working on her master's degree.

-Cook HUGE batches of everything and freeze the leftovers, chili, spaghetti sauce, soup, grilled burgers/chicken/pork, always use fresh vegs, get 'em accustomed to leftovers, and avoid snacks. Keep your kitchen cleaned up as you go rinse/wash things as you go 'cuz dried on stuff will quadruple your workload. Small pot, big pot, huge pot....cleanup effort is the same.
-TV and books are your friends but control it.
-Clean up as you do things to prevent "overloads".
-The kid/s aren't your boss and they love to help (start young), give them chores, you shouldn't need to clean their rooms if they are over 5, you are giving them life skills and you can't start too soon but you can start too late.
-Nobody leaves stuff laying around...nobody.

It's a job, do it, take it seriously, if you want to have free time to use your HENRY....AND FOR CRYING OUT LOUD TAKE THE KID



Pointer for dads with kids still in diapers:
If the package says, "for up to 15lbs" it's referring to the size of the kid...not how much it'll hold 'till you change it!

[Neon Horse]

Easy- make tacos and hamburgers! Youtube for help!

[ditchparrot]

Mayonaise chicken...
My kids loved it, easy to make, simple clean up...

Line a baking pan with foil, spray with pam, set oven at 450
Use you favorite chicken parts, legs, thighs, breasts... skin on or off.
Coat in mayo, really slim it on. (Substitute ranch or italian dressing, blue cheese, whatever) add salt and pepper... if desired..
Crush ritz crackers (put them in a zip lock bag and beat them or use a rolling pin...) then coat the chicken in the crumbs...
Lay in the pan
Cover with foil
Bake 45 minutes
Uncover
Broil five to ten for crispy coating

I made this tonight. It was a huge hit – many thanks to BrokenolMarine. My kid said it was as good as Mommy could've done it. Nearly brought me to tears.

[BrokenolMarine]

Mayonaise chicken...
My kids loved it, easy to make, simple clean up...

Line a baking pan with foil, spray with pam, set oven at 450
Use you favorite chicken parts, legs, thighs, breasts... skin on or off.
Coat in mayo, really slim it on. (Substitute ranch or italian dressing, blue cheese, whatever) add salt and pepper... if desired..
Crush ritz crackers (put them in a zip lock bag and beat them or use a rolling pin...) then coat the chicken in the crumbs...
Lay in the pan
Cover with foil
Bake 45 minutes
Uncover
Broil five to ten for crispy coating

I made this tonight. It was a huge hit – many thanks to BrokenolMarine. My kid said it was as good as Mommy could've done it. Nearly brought me to tears.

Thanks for the compliment, you did make my eyes water.
I have been making it for more than 30 years. Back when I was teaching in the "A" Schools in Memphis, the young Clerk in the schools was in a hard spot. He was a Lance Corporal in a school filled with students that were PFCs and LCpls. (or the Navy equivalents.) But, since the rules forbade Staff and Student relationships, HE couldn't hang out with the students as he was school staff. He couldn't go out and have a beer with most of the staff because he was an E-3; most of the Staff Members were E-5s and above and regs said that was a No-No as well. I spoke with the CO of the Marine Detachment at the school and asked if it would be okay to invite the kid to the house for a home cooked meal with the wife and kids, a movie, and get him out of the barracks. "No problem, you aren't hanging out in the bar, in public, you are looking out for the young Marine."

I would walk by and quietly ask if he had plans for the evening. "Ah, I'm not sure, Staff Sergeant."
"Mayonnaise Chicken and a Movie?"
"I'm there Staff Sergeant!"
The kids were too young to say Ricardo, but he quickly became: "Uncle Dardo."

[Shakey Jake]

Merry Christmas!! I'll share the family's Pecan Buttermilk Pie recipe. A grand ole' Southern tradition:
1/2 C butter 1/4 tsp salt
2C sugar 1C buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla ext 1/2C chopped pecans
3 eggs 1 deep dish pie pan ( get 2 if you use purchase from the store)
3 tbl spoon flour
Peheat oven to 300. In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy adding sugar a little at a time. Blend in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time beating after each. In a separate bowl combine the flour and salt then add to the mixture a little at a time. Stir in the buttermilk. Coat the bottom of the pie crust with pecans. Pour in the mixture and bake at 300 for 90 minutes. (If your oven is a bit on hot side then I'd set it at 280 or so). Some of the family like it at room temperature but I think it tastes best after refrigeration!!

[Conax]

I vouch for eggs, toast, bacon and grapefruit for breakfast because I'm a whiz at eggs over easy or scrambled. Omelets are doable but a lot of shopping and chopping involved. Don't overlook the precooked food in the refrigerated section, like Hormel entrees. They are very good, especially the beef tips and the roast beef. 5 minutes and wham! you have meat and gravy. Make some instant hungry man taters and open a can of green beans and you're golden.
Put no food down the sink, I wipe all food into the trash then rinse the plate for washing later.
That's all I got.