Dinner on the table by 5pm?

Question

Is this an expectation in your house, for your spouse to have dinner ready and on the table by 5pm? If not, is there a different time (later 6 or 7) that you prefer to have dinner ready by. Does one person, in your household, handle most of the cooking or is it more of a joint effort? If the cooking is handled by one person, which person is it (husband/bf or wife/gf)?

In our home, dinner on the table by 5 would not be logical because both our work schedules differ. However, I do handle most of the cooking but enjoy it. It isn't a "rule" set in stone that I have to cook. It's just a pattern that works better for us. What about you?

Answer 1

We try to eat during the week before 8PM

We take turns cooking during the week....whoever cooks the other cleans up afterward.

We eat out on the weekends.

Answer 2

My husband and I both work long hours, however I leave earlier and come back earlier so there is somewhat of an expectation that I will prepare food. Usually he will bring home take-out one night a week. I will cook2-3 nights a week, and we have a "on your own" night where everyone in the house just finds what they want to make and eat it.

Weekends he does most all of the cooking. I will do sunday breakfast, but he does dinner usuallay Friday, Sat, and Sunday. We often will go out on Friday night as well.

Oh yeah, we usually do not eat until 7:30-8:30 pm. I come home from work around 6:00 and husband at 7:30

Answer 3

Hopefully mature husbands and wives do what works best for their situation.
Currently, I'm a SAHM, and so I do the cooking. Husband usually comes home after 5, but needs time to unwind after his very physically demanding job, so usually supper is between 5:30 and 6. He is a good cook, but just doesn't have the time. Occasionally, we get him to make some of his "specialties" which I either can't make, or he just makes much better!
When we were both working, we were on different shifts, so that again presented problems. He was working during the day, and I was working mid-afternoon to evening. So then, I would cook the meal during the day, and leave it for him to heat up.

Answer 4

Food on table by 5 - no. We work the same days but like 5 days one week and 2 the next 12 hours. So he usually cooks dinner for every one and I have a plate waiting when I get home at 730 pm I work days he works grave yard on the days were off I cook and it depends on what we are all doing when I fix it sometimes as earlly as 4 sometimes as late as 8 just depends. When were off most of the times he helps me if not one or more of our 4 kids help. I love to cook and I love when he helps cause as we pass each other theres always a pat or a kiss or some sweet words. I love weekends when were off sometimes I fix big southern meals and sometimes he cooks out and we invite friends and family to join. Its a wonderful time to sit and eat and talk.

Answer 5

We eat dinner at all different times. My husbands schedule varies daily. Sometimes he will be home at 4, sometimes not until 7 although 5:30ish is the normal time.

This is how it works in our house: On Sunday night I ask my husband if theres anything specific he wants to eat during that week. If he says yes I add it, if not I pick what I want. On Monday I go grocery shopping and we have something quick like store bought pizza or chinese food. For the other days of the week I have a list and we pick as the days go by. If Im not in the mood to cook I'll ask my husband to cook something easy. I normally do all of the fully cooked meals. We eat between 6-8pm. It just depends on what type of day we're having. We have two small children and tons of things going on each day.

Answer 6

My kids have an 8 PM bed time and they are hungry when they get home from school so I make dinner early. it isn't always the same time but always by 6. If I have a busy day ahead I prepare dinner in the crock pot in the morning and it's ready when we get home. I hate when we go to my in-laws and they don't start making dinner until 7. Even on the weekends it is inconvenient to eat that late. it works for them because it is the 2 of them and they both work later. I say to each his own, but for my family we eat early and then we have time to hang out before bed.

Answer 7

My husband and I work opposite shifts so dinner falls mostly on me. We have 2 kids so I have to make sure the kids are fed after I get home from work in the evening. Most nights I try to make something that will reheat well for my husband when he gets home around midnight. Although sometimes he is on his own with hot pockets and corn dogs! He has his hands full during the day with both kids so I don't feel like dinner is unfairly put on me. My husband takes care of many other things that I never have to worry about like yard work and a lot of the laundry.

Answer 8

We have a crazy schedule, 3 kids, sports, so dinner varies as far as the time. I do most of the cooking (he does the grill), so dinner is on the table when I am done cooking it. As long as everybody is fed they are happy. But, everybody pitches in ideas for what to make, usually the kids each get a night to pick.

Answer 9

Dinner is usually served between 3to4p.m. I and
my wife take turns cooking depending on the
mood of the other. We eat dinner early so as not
to be full when retiring for the night. This works for
us as we are both retired and enjoying life to the
fullest.

Answer 10

My Spouse cooks most of the time at home ! He likes to eat and cook and i think he enjoys it when he cooks and you really like it ! I don't care much about it , although I am a supper cook at work in a retirement living center !

Answer 11

I'm home first so I usually start dinner so that we don't eat too late. We eat by 6:00 which is shortly after he gets home. I enjoy doing it. If I'm really tired, hubby will make something for us or for himself if I'm not hungry. If we are tired of cooking we go out to eat a few times a week.