INTRODUCTION:
I never wanted to be a SAHM (Stay at Home Mom-for the uninitiated), I had worked hard in college, done well, landed a great job, making good money, stock options yadda yadda yadda. I kind of hand that whole Lean In attitude about SAHMs-where I felt like they could do more for women in society if they were breaking down the glass ceiling (I am so sorry about that, moms). It wasn't my plan, though. Then I became a mother and suddenly- very suddenly-it wasn't about society, or women's movements or what I thought before hand, or even about me: it was about a person. One little person. He thinks I'm the world. So, as with all my endevours, I am going to work hard to be great at this!
One of the things that has become important, is a family budget. Now, I can't really change what the cable bill goes for (although, you should cancel cable and get Netflix and Hulu-eff Comcast), I can work on the food budget! Before the baby, my husband and I spent a lot on take out. We drove in and out of Boston every day for work and it was usually 6pm or later when we got home. No one was trying to be Martha Stewart, although I do love to cook.
Now, I have a new baby and not a ton of time, so stuff I can cook and prep ahead has become really important. Or if I can prep 2 meals at once, put one in the fridge, you get the idea. What I also do now, is find recipes that are similar enough that I can buy more of what I was already buying at the store, (you get better unit prices the more you buy of something in most cases), but different enough that my husband doesn't riot and order $60 worth of delivery sushi.