So little time and a whole lot to cook...

“The best way to execute French cooking is to get good and loaded and whack the hell out of a chicken. Bon appétit. ”
― Julia Child

You want a meal that is hot, healthy and wholesome for your family but you barely have time to order a pizza or swing through a drive through... Solution...Crockpot!!! I love mine and am glad in times like these of "negative time days", that I have a few of them.  Plan your week to include a couple meals that can be made in a crockpot and you will save yourself time, money and the aggravation of a lot of clean-up.  Not to mention that when you walk into the house 6 hours later, exhausted and starving, it smells like your personal chef has been hard at work making you a gourmet meal! Carrots, onions, celery, a chicken roaster, some basic seasonings, and a cup of white wine (the rest is for dinner, so choose well) and you have a meal worthy of Julia herself. Reserve the carcas and cooking liquid to make an easy chicken soup tomorrow night!

The only thing left to do is to set the table which I recommend delegating to the children since, according to the thought of my children, is the reason we give birth to them...so we have built in servants to do chores. Really?! The response to that was as matter of fact as to my response of the issue of allowance owed to do these chores..."You get an allowance every day, your ALLOWED to live here :)". That was the end of that conversation.

But seriously, conversation is key to a successful and full education.  Take the time to talk to your kids about their day.  Sometimes it seems as though it might be the worst torture in the world for them to share what actually happened in their day past the obligational "fine" we often get when we ask how their day went.  Be patient, calm and sometimes a little sarcasm goes a long way...just saying.  Accept what they have to say but continue to ask more specific questions than "what was the best part of your day?", because their response will likely be "lunch" or "recess".  Ask about science, math or english.  Ask them to show you their notebooks or handouts.  Be sure to plenty of positives, even when seeing the "not so perfect" test grades. They may not act like they care, or they may even get agitated with the talks at times, but I assure you they do care and some day they will look back fondly on those moments. 

With that being said, I toast to you for being engaged parents and remind you to pat yourself on the back for being the best and most important "teacher" in your child's life! That is something to be proud of...Bon Appetit!