The one question I hate...that I hear everyday....

Oh Carla, you are so right!

Crockpots are awesome. Which child should be in charge of a crockpot meal at least once a week? How early are the college student's classes?

With a full-time job and an overnight caregiving gig, it sounds like you already have a lot on your plate (no pun intended). You have other adults in the house - can't everyone else take a turn cooking? Your children would have to cook their own meals if they weren't staying in your home, so why should they expect you to cook for them? Surely you are already working at least as hard as everyone else.

One of my children works and the other one is in college. Even my husband calls me on his way home and asks the same question. I work full time, and I am only at home until 8 pm and that is when I go to my Mom's to spend the night. They don't pay me but they do help with housework and yardwork.

I am going to HAVE to do a meal plan. They will have to be in charge of taking something out of the freezer in the morning and I also want to use the crockpot more.

I have two children and a child's SO living in my home now. They pay room and board and that is the only thing allowing me to stay in my house. We get along famously.

By my choice, I am in charge of all meals. I plan, shop, and cook. They clean up. I love having free reign. I do menus a week in advance and post them on the refrigerator. Weeks I skip this don't go as smoothly. I can glance at the chart at night and know if I have to take something out of the freezer. I can look at it in the morning and see if I need to shop for fresh items for the next couple of days. It is more for me than for them!

They all work. I am home. I've always worked and never had the chance to devote time and love to this part of homemaking. I'm really enjoying it.

Do your children work? Are they paying you? Would you like them to contribute to the meal-making? What if they took turns coming up with a week's menu? They could include page numbers of cookbooks or print out recipes. Your question seems to imply that it is meal planning you like least. Do the grandchildren do the cleanup?

I hate any question that starts with "where is the ..."