There is a very specific hour of the day where everyone in my house forgets how to be a person. It starts around 4:50pm and ends when food hits the table.
Step one: lower the bar
I used to try and cook something new at 5pm. That was a personality flaw, not a plan. Now we have five dinners on rotation and nobody has complained since.
- Sheet pan anything
- Breakfast for dinner (undefeated)
- The pasta with the good jarred sauce
Step two: a snack, immediately
Half the meltdowns are hunger. A bowl of something on the counter buys me twenty minutes, which is roughly one entire dinner.
You are not behind. It is just 5pm and everyone is starving.