Dear Emuna,
I have been married a little over a year and I like to think that I am a pretty good wife. I work full-time, I keep the house spic-and-span, and my husband and I are happy together. There is just one thing I simply can’t do: I hate cooking. I feel it is a waste of time and I simply am not good at it. I have tried over and over again to enjoy cooking, to find simple recipes, to take pride in my food. But the fact of the matter is that I don’t enjoy cooking. I would much rather pick something up from the local grocery or restaurant or eat cereal for dinner.
Unfortunately there is a lot of pressure, especially among young married women, to cook elaborate dinners for our husbands and to cook five course meals every Shabbos. I feel embarrassed and guilty that I don’t cook for my family, but I simply have a million things I would rather be doing. My husband says he doesn’t mind eating out and that he did not marry me for my cooking skills. I'm hoping you will tell me that as long as I can pick up nutritious food I shouldn’t be concerned about this. What should I do? Please help!
Can’t Stand the Heat
Dear Can’t Stand the Heat
I have to admit that at first your letter stumped me. Don’t like to cook? How do I answer such a complaint when I love to cook and even boast a web site devoted to the subject (a little commercial plug there!)? But of course, I understand. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. I seem to have a psychological block when it comes to picking up clothes at the dry cleaner’s, an almost allergic reaction to the iron and don’t even think about asking me to sew a straight line! And it is a mistake to think that marriage changes any of that.
So the first thing to do is stop beating yourself up and take pleasure in the gifts and talents you do have. Enjoy them and make the most of them.
Secondly, be grateful for a husband who doesn’t mind. That is definitely a blessing. Add to your gratitude the fact that, as you alluded to, we live in a world where almost everything is available through take-out. We live in a world with lots of conveniences and short-cuts that you can take advantage of.
And most of all, stop feeling guilty. Step back from the foolish notion of competitiveness with respect to Shabbos meals. That seems to miss the point of the day. The only Judge who really counts judges us based on our unique abilities and potential and what we do with them, not on what the woman down the street made for dinner.
Focus on and enjoy the things you do well and if you absolutely must cook, my site has a whole section of Easy Recipes.
-- Emuna
Dear Emuna,
I feel like my kids (especially my teenage daughters) constantly have their hands out for money. “I need a new skirt, top, shoes”…fill in the blank. It’s usually something they want, not something they need and I feel like most of our interchanges end with my constantly saying no. I don’t want this to be the bulk of our relationship but I don’t know what to do. Can you help a broke and harassed mother?
Broke and Harassed Mom
Dear Normal Mother of Teenagers,
Teenagers and money, teenage girls and clothing – these are tough calls and the bane of many a mother’s existence. After much experimentation, tears and other stress-inducing experiences, I have found a solution that seems to work (if and when I actually do it): Give your kids a budget.
Choose a certain amount of money to allot to them for every four to six-month period. Then they are on their own. They have to make the tough choices – one expensive pair of shoes or a cheaper pair and a top also? Should I buy what I sort of like now or wait for something I might like better? When they are in charge and have clear limitations, they will choose more carefully and practically (It’s too easy to be cavalier when you think the pit is bottomless).
Although the initial money comes from you, it will still teach them to budget their financial resources and to plan their purchases carefully. More importantly, that whole area of discussion and struggle will be removed from your relationship freeing you up to fight about curfews, the car, makeup…
-- Emuna
Dear Emuna,
My husband has been without fixed employment for three out of the four years of our marriage. I have sometimes been angry with him about various aspects of the situation -- how far he should lower his expectations from his ideal job, how we balance out our contributions to the household (of money, time, and effort), how much help we can request from our parents -- but we've worked through them and kept our relationship in fairly good shape. But now our savings are going fast, my salary does not cover our living expenses, I'm pregnant with our second child, and I don't know how to deal with it anymore. I know he can't make a job magically appear, but I'm scared and I desperately wish I could hand over some of the financial burden to him. How do I keep from getting discouraged?
Struggling Wife
Dear Struggling Wife,
I can understand why you might feel discouraged and even a little frightened (and perhaps a little more emotional than usual due to all those pregnancy hormones) yet it’s hard to really respond to your situation without knowing more details. It is a rough economy and a tough job search these days and your husband needs your support.
On the other hand, it seems like you need support also. Are you getting it? Is your husband making the best effort possible? It sounds like you have doubts about that. Is that just your anxiety speaking or is there some solid basis for your questions?
I think the two of you should sit down with a competent marriage counselor to talk this out. Frequently the Jewish federation or other community organizations have counseling available without charge or for a minimal fee.
I know you have no money but preserving your marriage is such a priority you need to find a way. Don’t delay going. Your frustration level seems to be building and that is stressful for you, your young child, your baby and your husband. (Your pressure and anxiety may ironically make it even harder for him to find a job; his own anxiety and desperation may bleed through in interviews – another reason for you to be supportive).
All marriages and the individuals grow through facing challenges. Don’t think of it as your husband’s struggle or problem; think of it as something the two of you need to confront and resolve. If you are both are on the same page and united in your commitment to one another, there is no challenge that you won’t be able to face.
(14) MESA, August 2, 2017 2:09 PM
I love to cook, but I hate to fuss. I do not cook fancy dinners for my family and I don't make five-course meals for Shabbat or Yom Tov. I try to make food that everyone likes and that's healthful. And I don't like to bake at all, so desserts are almost always store-bought. Do I feel guilty about any of this? Not on your life.
(13) , March 9, 2011 3:49 PM
To Can't Stand the Heat's Husband (comment 6)
I hope I didn't offend you with my comment (number 4), as I did not intend in any way to criticise you. I just wanted to point out the possible solution of your doing the cooking instead, and I was amazed that the author did not include this in her response. Obviously in your situation it will not work, but given the information in your wife's letter, there was no reason why the author should not have suggested it. I've read a lot of articles on Aish, and my general feeling is that the authors seem to assume all women do not work and are the home-makers, while men go out to work. I find this very frustrating as I work full time (8 to 5), and I find that the frum world in general, as well as Aish, do not encourage men to take on some of the responsibilities of running the home, and anything they do is "helping out" the wife with "her" job of running the home, even if whe is working full time as well.
(12) Anonymous, March 9, 2011 3:24 PM
As long as you provide what is important to your hubby
My neigbor and i used to laugh - She had fancy, yummy smelling suppers every evening ready when her husband came home - while I had simple/easy/thrown together meals (often not ready when he walked in). I had a clean spic and span house while hers was always flying with piles everywhere. Both of us provided what was important to our husbands. I think that is the secret of a good marriage. Don't compare to how your friends do things/ balance what there is to be done. (Better not even to talk about it if it is going to make you doubt) If it works for you and your spouse than you are doing great.
(11) Anonymous, March 9, 2011 5:26 AM
To the mother who wrote about money issues with her kids - is there any way that they could earn their own money? Amazing how much easier it is to ask for something when the money isn't coming from your own pocket... I'm 20, and living at home. We've never had a lot (or anything resembling) of money. When I was a teenager, I worked on Sundays (in the mornings - so it's not like my whole day was taken up), babysat, and worked in the summers. For the most part, when I wanted something, I bought it. Simple as that. I never liked asking my parents for things - I knew it wasn't easy for them, and I became independent through working and buying for myself that it was actually a little strange. Of course, there were definitely things that my parents bought for me, but not extras for the most part. My mother used to feel bad that she couldn't give us everything, but I've told her more than once that I would much prefer this way - I've learned how to budget; how to differentiate between a need, a want, and a want that is worth it to save up for; and many other things as well. Every household has its own dynamics, and I don't know if this would work in yours, but just know that it isn't impossible.
(10) Welton, March 9, 2011 3:36 AM
Cooking
Don't cook alone, make it a family affair, and make it fun. Throw a little bread dough, flower a face here or there, slip a little something into a recipe. Just resolve to cook together, as a family, and to have fun doing it. Mess can be fun to make and generally are easy to clean up. having fun as a family also build good self-esteem and character - and it teaches love.
(9) Chaiah Schwab, March 8, 2011 10:53 PM
I also am not "Mrs. Loves-to-cook" but there is hope!
Cereal may work for her but not for hubby. One solution might be to cook extra for Shabbos (or buy extra) and use it all week long. I had to do that when my hubby was killed. I was blessed to have a wonderful hubby who didn't mind cooking, but he worked full time (i worked part time & did the cleaning, laundry, etc. for 8 kids!) so I was left with coming up with simple healthy one pot meals for most of the evenings. When I lost hubby in a highway crash I had to do everything. This made a new perspective: ANY food on the table was a big success. The moral: Always remember to count your blesings and check out Ash.com's simple healthy recipies! (but use less salt!) I acually find it less intimidating to cook from a printed out website recipie than from a cook book! I have no idea why! Also, hubby and you can cook together if you enjoy that, on weekends, and freeze or just keep a big pot of soup, stew etc. in fridge. There IS hope!
(8) cymerman, March 8, 2011 8:31 PM
she hates cooking
why doesn't she ask her husband to do it ? Have women got a special organ to cook that is different from men ?
(7) yehudit, March 8, 2011 8:29 PM
ditch the "friends"
to the wife who can't cook: you need new friends more than you need a cookbook.... !!!! how dare they pressure you? the truth is, they are probably a little jealous that your hubby is so great in that department...people don't tend to like those who don't fit into the jelly mould...so enjoy being different and take number 3's hilarious advice!!!I love it!!! Number 3, do a website: JustPut.com
(6) Can’t Stand the Heat's Husband, March 7, 2011 7:21 PM
My wife is amazing!
So, being that i am the husband of Can’t Stand the Heat, I will be the first to say I actually do most of the cooking around the house. I enjoy cooking, and trying out new things. I usually make the shabbos meals, with the exception of what my wife likes to cook. The issue was she wasn't sure if she should feel bad that she doesn't enjoy cooking. Before when I was self employed I had more time on my hands so cooking was not a problem. Now that I have a full time job, I usually get home around 7, 730... So she wants to have dinner made for me and her. When she says she has a full time job, she gets home around 1-3 in the afternoon depending on the day. I always explained to her I enjoy cooking, and she enjoys cleaning and it works for both of us. The issue was now that I work as much as I do, its hard for me to do the cooking. Also her friends were giving her a hard time that I was doing the cooking. But I will always say she is an amazing wife, and I have no complaints!
(5) Anonymous, March 7, 2011 5:26 PM
I also hate to cook
The comments here have been great! I also hate to cook. Luckily for me my love of eating good food usually overrides how much I HATE to cook. The worst is when I do cook and then noone eats it. I think the cereal solution will get you far. And I am not being facetious.
(4) Sharon, March 7, 2011 10:33 AM
Emuna's advice is usually right on the money, but I looked at the first question (Can't Stand The Heat) and I not only don't understand the question, but I disagree totally with the answer. Am I the only one who noticed that this woman not only works full time, but keeps the house spic and span, and does everything but the cooking? And what does her husband do? I can understand if a woman doesn't work or works part time that she should be expected to do the housework and the cooking, but I fail to understand why a woman who works full time should be expected to do it all. Her husband does nothing to help, but gets a big pat on the back because he doesn’t mind that she doesn't cook! Marriage is supposed to be a partnership - if she hates cooking, why doesn’t he do it instead? Even if he doesn’t love it, I doubt she loves cleaning, but she does it anyway... If he doesn’t know how to cook, why not go for a few lessons?
(3) Anonymous, March 7, 2011 5:27 AM
Don't cook, just put. Buy a few machines.
Emuna, don't cook, just PUT. Put some stuff in a slow-cooker in the morning, and just EAT it at dinner time. No biggie. Get a rice cooker and just PUT. The machine does it for you. Get somebody to show you how to PUT, not cook. A jar of red tomato sauce, some rinsed dried beans, a bag of potatoes, a bag of carrots, a stick or two of celery. NEVER PEEL any vegetable in the formal sense, just cut off anything yucky, and merely PUT. That's not cooking, it's putting. Fresh -Direct has a kosher section, and they will bring it all to your door. With nice dishes, and a big plastic tub to soak them clean in, you will have hummed a few bars and faked it, and no one the wiser, and all happy and nourished. Kosher Vitamins Dot Com web site will ship you a one-a-day vitamin with iron. You might look into a food processor. That's not cooking, it's processing. Throw olive oil and bottled lemon juice on whatever, and eat it. No measuring. Just putting. Keep a large container of garlic powder around, and a box of black pepper, and life will be fine.
(2) Bobby5000, March 7, 2011 3:11 AM
Cooking is nice but not essential. Interestingly my son and a friend lived with 5 girls. Both guys could cook well, while the girls had limited skills. (I have 3 boys who all cook well). It's something you can learn. The job is different. A wife is entitled to know what her husband is doing to find employment though the conversation can be painful.
(1) Nechami B., March 6, 2011 2:00 PM
For the wife who doesn't enjoy cooking-I agree with Emuna in addition, remember that part of caring for your husband is making sure you have prepared meals that appeal to him, the important part is to take care of his needs whether you buy the food or prepare it yourself is not the important point. An idea that works well in our house with teenage girls and clothing-after noticing our daughter would have to have a new article of clothing or accessory only to wear it once and need something new, we agreed to have her purchase her wants and if she used it for set amount of time which we agreed upon we would reimburse her for the item. This really cut down on the wants and our daughter has begun to shop more responsibly.