Posted on 09/07/2014 1:47:32 AM PDT by Olog-hai
A team of researchers at North Carolina State University published a study challenging the idea that home-cooked meals are ultimately “better” for the family as a whole. […]
Their time spent accompanying parents shuttling children to checkups, grocery shopping, and, of course, preparing food, led the team to a set of real world conclusions at odds with stereotypical parenting wisdom. For all of the health benefits associated with food prepared at home, the task presented parents, particularly mothers, with a slew of economic and interpersonal stressors.
“One could say that home-cooked meals have become the hallmark of good mothering, stable families, and the ideal of the healthy, productive citizen,” their abstract reads. “Yet in reality, home-cooked meals rarely look this good. Leanne, for example, who held down a minimum-wage job while taking classes for an associate’s degree, often spent her valuable time preparing meals, only to be rewarded with family members’ complaints—or disinterest.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at pbs.org ...
Things are different today,
I hear every mother say.
And when he is present, he is the “baby daddy”.
I saw something about this the other day and snorted, smirked, and rolled my eyes. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill. I am considered a “cook” amongst friends and probably spend significantly less time on food prep than they do. 1. Everyone needs to learn how to use a knife properly. This goes a long way. 2. Learn to use freezers, crock pots and the concept of the double recipe. 3. Not every meal needs to be a unique, five star experience, just nutritious. It’s OK to serve the same thing twice in one week (heck with the right 3 year old you might as well serve the same thing every night),sandwiches and soup or omlettes with the remnants of vegetable dishes in the fridge. Oops. I just shared my meal plan for the week.
LOL - good one.
The next headline you’ll be seeing soon is...
“Study finds that child birth disproportionately burdens mothers”
And it’ll be used as an excuse for more abortion, birth control and the like.
Community dining says communes to me.
That is correct. I just make sure there is something ready around 6 PM, but I have only one out of 3 kids that a) is ready to eat at 6 and b) turns up his nose at nothing.
So, once they are teens, the idea of sitting around the table discussing your day gets more difficult, with games starting at 5:30 and programs at school in the evenings and fathers whining about being the sole breadwinner, it gets to be a challenge.
Wife and mom used to be honored positions in our society. Respected, too. After all, who knew best how to feed kids other than moms? (Maybe some dads, too)
It was also OK to be feminine.
Even after starting to work full-time, opposite shift from my husband, I am still cooking meals.
For one thing, who can afford to eat out all the time!
Finally ... about the single mom in teh original story ... honey, if you are making minimum wage, ‘fess up. You are also getting food stamps, Medicare and housing assistance. And probably free tuition.
At least, that’s how it is in the real world, not the fantasy world of some study.
I may not have a college education, but I am a avid reader. With a heavy dose of Scott blood, and commonsense.
And a good researcher. Having to deal with parole hearings taught me to fight, and to have facts to back me up.
And the so called repeat child or wife beater syndrome can be mastered, if there is a will. When I remarried a decade later, my new husband was a very loving, carrying father to 2 boys not his own. He came out of a abusive home, his mom in his case. He never raised his hand in anger, a couple swats on the bent over butt is the worst he had to do. His choice of punishment was hated chores, no TV. In 23 yrs of marriage he was a wonderful husband and father until the Lord called him home way to soon @ 57 massive heart attack.
Don’t get distracted by arguing the “surface” issue here.
The target is the family, and this is why:
Malachi 2:15 -> the purpose of marriage and family is to produce Godly offspring.
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