These are the words that warmed my heart after the kind of day that made leftover meatloaf a luxury. My day was no different than the kind millions of moms better than me pull off everyday: cousin sleepover, pancake breakfast, zoo with 4 kids, meet your kindergarten teacher open house, and the Mt. Everest of motherhood: taking your children with you to IKEA. (Okay, I’m being overdramatic, but it really is in one of my least favorite outings with kids.) So, when we staggered into the house at the time I would really like to be getting them ready for bed, my weary mind thought through all of my pathetic, one-day-left-until-payday-and-no-groceries-in-the-house options for dinner. Finally I remembered some leftover meatloaf from a more ambitious day earlier in the week. (Yes, for some of us moms, meatloaf is an ambitious meal.) So, knowing it would not be well-received, but at least it’s better than nothing, I microwaved my way to dinnertime. I called up the kids who squealed “hooray!” on their way to the table until they saw what was actually served.
Grant asked “Is this meatloaf, mom?,” and Clark piped up and said “I love meatloaf.” I wanted to hug him for being forgiving on a long, exhausting day. It made me think that this is why Heavenly Father wants us to be like a little child, “submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father [or mother or a bad dinner].” Maybe I should try to be some of those things next time we go to IKEA.
(This entry was originally posted on August 28, 2009. I’m still rebuilding my lost archives.)
Diapers and Divinity 
I love meatloaf too!
Oooo, I made meatloaf for the dinner exchange! It’s waiting in the freezer
I love pulling out leftovers of one of those ambitious meals. It’s like twice the glory for half the work . . .
It’s amazing what our kids end up liking. I found that the simpler the meal, the more popular it was. Go figure!
I talked Dean (maybe I should even say guilted him, since he was fairly reluctant,) into taking all of us to Ikea tonight for a family Memorial Day outing, and we ate dinner there. I still need to go back (ran out of time to look for some storage boxes I needed) but it was still a much-needed break after a rather grueling week, and much more pleasant than if I were trying to corral the kids on my own.
I’m sure you’re right that plenty of moms might take a day like you described for granted, but I definitely am not one of those moms – I would feel heroic after such a day. I far prefer to hole up at home, and when I have to be out with little kids a lot day after day, I start to feel frantic.
I think we should declare a national Meatloaf holiday. May 22nd sounds like the perfect day for this, since that’s what we had for dinner, too!
My boys actually like meatloaf. So weird.
That Grant is such a sweet guy. And you never cease to amaze me with your perspective on things.
I meant Clark…oops. It’s early on a Saturday, that’s my excuse.
But Grant is sweet too, of course!
OK, I’ll stop now…
IKEA is definitely more enjoyable without kids!!
I had never had meatloaf until after I was married! I think my mother-in-law cooked it… And to me, you’re a cooking genius for being able to make it! I wouldn’t have a clue about how to make it.
Dinner is the hardest time of the day for me. Thank heaven for the times kids behave this way. Whining and complaining about what is served for dinner is harder on the mom more than kids realize.
I just read through your last few posts. You are so funny:)- that hasn’t changed. And, you are such a great, entertaining writer- that hasn’t changed either! I really thought the post on meatloaf was taken off a “professional writer’s” blog. Where can I get a talent like that? I always tell my sisters I’m good at exercising and cleaning. Beyond that? I got nothin’- Why didn’t I get more of my mother in me?!