My mom got increasingly more anxious, until she had to encourage me not to. "The kitchen isn't ready" which meant that SHE wasn't.
A clean kitchen is one of her pride & joys. And something she was taught by her 5 sisters and mother. She praises me for being fearless in the kitchen, but I am now afraid of her and the ghosts of all the women in my family who hate anyone else entering their kitchen.
Ironically, my mom doesn't cook at all. Nor does she eat what I make. She lives on cold roast chicken from the supermarket and potatoes in the microwave.
Everytime I enter with my food, I mess it up for her. I cannot clean it (because she doesn't approve of the dishwasher). She insists on keeping a bowl in the empty (?) sink to catch any grey water from anything. Which makes everything less appetizing and ergonomic.
I like to make vegetables, and by that I mean chopping them or stir frying. Anything more and it drives her crazy. I've become a vegetarian chef because it's less messy for her.
"It would be better if you didn't", finally.
