K.S.
B., I don't have any practical advice, but your post made me want to write you anyway. You made me laugh out loud because all that you said is so honest and so much like how I feel some nights. Honestly, isn't half the annoyance that you are magically expected to come up with an idea for dinner every night, without end? The answer I dread most of all is "I don't know. Anything you want to make sounds good to me." Okay, tacos it is.
Don't let your mom's example set a standard that makes you unhappy. She may never admit it, but I bet there were days when she wanted to lose it.
Actually, I do have some practical advice. My fallback easy dinner is a roast chicken from the grocery store plus a salad. I always follow the rule a friend gave me for salad: throw in something red, something sweet and something fatty (cheese, avocado). I add nuts and beans whenever possible. It is amazing how many different combinations you can come up with for a salad with that formula. Here's to you and here's to cheese!!!