I'm just going to be perfectly honest with you: I'm a mediocre cook. I don't do elaborate meals with cute little garnishes or candlelit dinners. I do practical. That means sometimes my husband comes home to 'mac and cheese'. He isn't always thrilled about that, but at least he doesn't go to bed starving. I used to beat myself up about my simple approach to cooking, but then I realized being a 'practical' wife is better than being a 'perfect' one.
Kelly and I work, we're involved in our church, we run a side business, we teach, we have a house that has to get taken care of and we have two rambunctious Siberian Huskies who are always getting into trouble. Saying we have a busy schedule would be an understatement. Sometimes the list overwhelms me. But then I take a moment to thank God for all of the above. We are blessed. That list is proof of it.
Tomorrow afternoon, I begin teaching. I love teaching. Even if they didn't pay me, I would still show up and teach my heart out. There really is something wonderful about standing in front of a room of students eager to learn. And when they're my Senior Citizens ready to learn how to use the computer, it's even better. So, what does a practical wife do when she works evenings? She uses the Crockpot, aka the secret weapon of a good wife.
So, what do I make in the summertime in the Crockpot? Chicken Enchilada Casserole, and Tater Tot Casserole. My husband isn't big on 'hot' food in the summertime. I decided to make fish tacos one night and he ate them for three nights after that proclaiming that he could "live off of these things." I'm sure it had a little something to do with the fact that I made Rubio's fish tacos with white sauce. The white sauce is super easy: 1/2 cup mayonaise, 1/2 cup yogurt. Fish tacos and the like are what my husband calls 'cold' meals. The one interesting thing I've learned about him since getting married is that he really is a creature of habit. So, we stick to chicken, hot dogs, salads, sandwiches, and other slightly cooler meals in the summertime.
But this morning I was feeling creative. I pulled down the Crockpot, pondered what to put inside and then plugged it in. What am I attempting to make? A simpler version of Chicken Pot Pies...without the pie. Instead of baking a 'pie', I've made the Chicken Pot Pie stew and we're throwing it over flaky biscuits. It could turn out to be an EPIC failure. If it does, I know I can always count on my husband to gently say, "Please don't make that in the future" as he smiles and manages to choke down the last piece on his plate. Like I said, I'm practical--not perfect.
I think our society has this idea of the 'perfect' wife. She works full time, her house is spotless, her children are well-behaved, her hair is perfect and she is always calm and collected. She does everything and makes it look easy. If only that were the case! I would love an Easy button every now and then. The truth is, this wife thing is far from easy. It's what many women refer to as a job "that never ends." There is no 9-5 option. You are a wife 100% of the time and it's not always easy, but I think it's the hardest job I've ever loved as much as I do.
An old friend of mine told me recently that he couldn't believe I was a wife. And what he considered a good one at that. It was a big compliment coming from him because he has seen me at my worst. My parents had just divorced, we moved in next door, and I was on the brink of literally losing it. I was selfish, young, ambitious and not interested in marriage at any point in my future. Fast forward 12 years and those things I used to be no longer describe me. Sometimes I am a little selfish--we all are. We're human. But then I remember what my goal in life is: to be a good, practical wife who loves her husband and somehow manages to get as much done as she can in a day.
I do strive for perfection, but I always give myself room to mess up. It's taught me a great lesson in life: forgiving yourself is key. Forgive your shortcomings, forgive your mistakes and forgive your imperfections. Focus on what you're good at. Be practical--not perfect.
Your Wife-Friend in Christ,
Jessica
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