Why supper sometimes comes out of a box....

Some days, I'd like to think an entire thought without an interruption. We're not talking like save-the-world ideas, complex mathematical equation solutions, or anything that is deep, meaningful and profound! We're talking - something simple. Like the attempt to formulate a plan for dinner ... which sounds something like this:
Me: It's close to...
M: MOOOMMMMMY!!!
Me: 4
M: AHHHHHH! MOMMY SHE'S GOT MY TOY! GIVE IT BACK!! One kid whizzes past.
Me: o
K: MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE The other one follows closely behind. Along with the pooch. Who is barking hysterically. I'm not sure if it's because he thinks it's a game or if something of his was taken too!!
Me: clock
Sounds of shrieks and cries of despair are coming from the back room. Must investigate. Discussion about sharing, respect and threats of discipline ensue. 
Problem solved. 
SIGH.
Me: I should get...
M: MOMMY CAN WE PLAY THE RUN GAME AGAIN!!?
For the next 3 minutes I am calling out random places around the house and Little M is running to each one. It's a grand game.  Really!!!
Me: supper...
K: EASE EASE EASE EASE EASE - she says, dangling from the fridge door. It's her way of asking for her milk cup. However, speech therapy is encouraging us to introduce a "card communication system" which is all great in theory but a pain in the butt to implement, and so I praise Sweet K for her words, remind her to use her milk card, get out the milk cup, wait until she's done so she doesn't stash her milk cup in the toy bin again and it gets all stinky.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Me: Hmmm. Now it's 4:15. Better get....
M: CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?
Me: No.

M: CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?

Me: NO!!

M: CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?

Me: AHHHHHH! NO! I will tell you when it is time to play games. (Little M is allowed a few minutes - we aim to keep it to 15-20 min. - to play some FREE online computer games right before supper. Usually when "the little hand is almost at the 6 and the big hand is touching the 9." She has been known to sit and stare at the clock until the proper timing has arrived!!!)

The next 15-20 minutes are filled with noise - Diggy barking at something, which is frustrating, repeating myself ten times over, even, stupidly, the radio is sometimes playing, which just adds to the "angst-filled ambience" !!!! I turn OFF the radio once I figure out what is making the extra noise.

Me: Oh boy. Now it's close to 5. Better start thinking about ...
M: Can you read me a story?
Me: No. I'm trying to make supper.
M: OHHHH! CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES CAN I PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?
Me: DON'T ASK ME AGAIN OR YOU WON'T GET GAMES TILL TOMORROW!!!
K: not saying much, but dangles around my leg, looking for a squeeze :).
Me: All I want to do is make something for supper. Mentally, I go through the meats we have in the freezer that are, by now, quick enough to defrost and prepare for supper. Ground beef.... chicken.... chicken..... beef :)..... SHOOT! I was gonna do a roast for supper! Better luck tomorrow!!
Of course, I'm saying this all out loud, because I cannot even hear myself THINK, (which is a phrase my mom ALWAYS said, and I swore I NEVER WOULD, but here I am and wouldn't you know....).
M: Mom, I don't like that.
Me: Don't like what, honey?
M: Chicken. Beef. Supper.
Guess she's been eavesdroppin' on my one-sided conversation....
Me: Listen here, little lady. There are many people in this world who don't have food to eat. If you complain about dinner (again!), you'll have to go out of the room, come back into the room, and say "thank you for making dinner, mommy."
Silence. We end up practicing this just to make sure it sticks.
By this time it has disintegrated into a mac 'n cheese night. With ground beef.
We will try again. Tomorrow.
For now, I take a tylenol and get ready for the bedtime routine!!!

Usually I use my electronic calendar to help me plan my meals ahead of time. Because I don't enjoy  cooking a whole lot, it is easier to look ahead, make sure I use up stuff in the freezer, get things defrosting early, etc. But even this is not a fail-proof method. Because sometimes, just sometimes, I forget to look at the calendar too!!!