comment: >
  
  I know what it means. I'm asking that person in particular what it means.
context: You dont understand the correct usage of the phrase, and neither does your husband.
  Say you're driving to work and there's a crash ahead, causing a huge tailback which makes you late for work.
  Some would be angry and some would complain, some would say "it is what it is" because it's out of your control and there's no point being upset. >
  
  Similar sayings: That's the way it goes. That's the way the cookie crumbles. So it goes. >
  
  Shit happens >
  
  Sometimes it be like that >
  
  But it do >
  
  Thats not how youre supposed to use that saying. Its meant to be a response to things you have no control over >
  
  Such as? I think we have way more power to fix things or chose our own actions than people give us credit for.
  I remember an old friend used that saying about his explosive temper with his wife, where he'd punch holes in the wall. Take ownership or your body and change! >
  
  
  Such as?
  
  The weather >
  
  Bundle up more with the cold, or sprinkle salts on the sidewalks in advance. Pre-emptively fix it. Don't just sit around and mope about it.
  Or maybe flesh out your example more. Like complaining about the frost on the windshield due to weather? Complaining about chickens dying from the heat, etc ? >
  
  Not being able to leave your house due to a snowstorm, a concert being rained out, being too cold to go swimming >
  
  Thanks for taking me down this path. So basically, you're using the saying to describe a situation, but then do you use it as an excuse to not complete something? That second part is the key that would upset me. Like, find another way to complete the task at hand.
  No use crying over spilt milk, but tremendous use in properly cleaning it up and moving on to do something else productive that day. >
  
  What you are missing is that if you are using the statement in the correct way it is not about having an excuse for not doing anything about something. Instead, it's more that the thing happened, but you aren't going to let it bother you too much and are instead going to move forward instead of dwelling. So if it's rainy and that means you can't do your plans, you can say "it is what it is" but then still put on your coat. You just aren't going to be upset about it. >
  
  Yeah, ultimately OP is refusing to accept the parase can mean anything than "I don't want to try". >
  
  It's not so much "not my problem, don't give a shit," it's more "not much I can do about it, so I'm not gonna waste emotional energy on it."
  Loving mac & cheese is incredibly normal for kids. They love calorie dense things, as they're growing. And now that your kids have a preference, it's extremely difficult to change that. My guess is your husband is thinking somewhere along these lines. It's not impossible to change, but he'd rather not waste the emotional energy trying to force them to be into other foods.
  Mac & cheese isn't even unhealthy for kids if you're making it from scratch, not using those neon powder packets from Kraft or whatever. It's calorie dense, which is great for kids. It's also easy as hell to make, and is just an all-around hearty meal on the cheap. If you're already doing this, you don't need to worry so much about it, and if you're not, do it! If you can give your kids what they want but make it healthy, everyone wins. You might even be able to sneak mushrooms or other food they don't like in, and get them to change their tune in it.
  But I dunno, parent your kids however you want lol >
  
  My mom used to be real sneaky about it, because she always made mac and cheese from scratch.  
  Spinach doesn't taste like much. 
  She'd puree it and mix it in with the bechamel.
  If your kids are young enough and aren't too picky, we used to lose our fucking shit over GREEN mac and cheese, because it's not supposed to be that color. 
  We thought it was so damn funny and weren't any the wiser. 
  Her kids could definitely be stuck on worse foods than mac and cheese. >
  
  It do be like that sometimes >
  
  After reading this thread, it’s clear OP doesn’t know what “it is what it is,” means.  Oh well, it is what it is. >
  
  What do you think it means? >
  
  It means shit just happens, that’s life. It is what it is.