Wednesday
May022007
Advice...noted.
May 2, 2007Thank you, but my son is onto all of your tricks. No, he doesn't eat new and different foods when he's with other children. No, he won't eat special foods for other relatives. No, he would never go for kebobs or dipping sauces or blind-taste tests or wacky food games; no, he won't try just one bite, no no NO. And yes, I'm also scared of Donna.
Fortunately I am hightailing it out of town for a long weekend, and leaving Scott with Henry. My family will forlornly eat mac and cheese every night, while I consume anything that's not mac and cheese. Tomorrow can't come fast enough.
Reader Comments (60)
I've just always believed that mealtimes are meant to be pleasant for family members, and I've always refused to allow anyone (child or adult) to remain at the table if they couldn't exercise good manners.
I think kids find, early on, that they can take control at the table, and after a while they don't even remember why they won't eat -- they just know they are in charge when they won't, and they know their parents can't think about anything else (not how was your day? or I'm glad you're home or we need to get rid of the dandelions this weekend or Man! I'm so glad we're married!) because their parents will only concentrate on why won't the damned kid eat?
I wish you good luck with Henry, and I'm very, very glad you get to get away from him for a few days.
He went to college and his room mates shamed him into eating more than baked beans, hamburger patties and cottage cheese.
I think we all just have to grow into having decent taste buds. My oldest started at 10. My young started at 1. We still refer to the oldest as "deal breaker" even though she will now eat almost anything.
No suprise, my daughter is as picky as they come. At least I can sympathize. And I try, I really do, not to care, as long as she doesn't actually insult what I cook, that's off limits.
I didn't actually learn to try new foods until I was in college. So there's hope. Eventually.
Long weekend? woo! Where ya going what ya doin'?
Have a fabulous time.
Something happened in his 30's. Now he reviews restaurants on his blog (http://www.paulryburn.com) and is a very adventurous eater. Thai, Indian, whatever. I sometimes just have to shake my head in wonder.
Don't even worry about Henry. If the ped isn't worried, and he's growing, and he's making his milestones, you're fine. He's fine. Honestly, preschoolers seem to exist mostly on air and bubblegum anyway.
I know you may scream if yet another blogger gives you advice, but there's hope. My crazy kid only ate a few things FOR YEARS. We just went with it. He's six now and starting to ask for new stuff. I think he just wanted to torture me.
I was told just last week that "if there was ever anything decent in this house for breakfast I wouldn't have to go to school hungry every day!" And she's right, other than cereal, toast (2 choices of bread), eggs, oatmeal, fruit, granola bars, there really is nothing. Poor thing.
This week I choose to like my kid just the way he is. It's way more fun, and next week I may be way too neurotic to remember to do it.
We haven't had food issues w/ my dd, but at age 4 she finally decided she was ready to potty-train. It too TWO YEARS. And it only happened when we finally gave up. And not even really then--I gave up about 6 months ago, and finally she decided she was ready.
Kids have this way of doing things on their own schedules, don't they?
She is right. (and we practice this in our house too) If our child refuses to eat, then she can leave the table and play quietly until dinner is finished. End of story. She does not get to remain at the table and complain.
Have there been some nights when she didn't eat much? Yes. But not many. She caught on quickly that refusing food and complaining about it was a short ticket away from the dinner table. She wants to be there, and we want her there too!
I have zero tolerance for food issues and complaining. My child has always been a good weight, though, so perhaps this is easier in that respect. I've never had to worry about health issues attendant to her lack of eating. But I think there is a reason why she and her brother are the only grandchildren in our family who do not have 'picky eater' issues.
Damn, you get a lot of advice when you specifically ask for none!!
However, I know my time may very well be coming and I am scared. The kid eats what we eat - South Indian fish and all sorts of ethnic. He downright refuses normal kid food like mac/cheese and grilled cheese. He'll deign to eat chicken strips, but you better have BBQ sauce or forget it. I fear for my alternatives when he goes through his own Not Eating phase. Grass? Hay? Cat food?
Anyway, Donna's heart may have been in the right place, but I still think it was a little over the top.
All I know is some kids really prefer not to respond to anything, even if you take their food away or whatever. Mine would rather go hungry and sulk and be a martyr. In other weird news, he would rather eat pot roast or pork tenderloin (with ketchup) than a hot dog.
Which is bizarre. On the one hand, I like that he prefers such yummy stuff. On the other hand, I'm a working mom and it would make my day if he would eat a !@#$ hotdog. :D
The reality is that kids are going to have to do a lot of things they don't like and they might as well learn that life isn't fair. I know it will make you feel like mean mommy, but I'm assuming that he's going to school in the next year or two and it's best that he learns how to behave appropriately at meal times. Do you think his first grade teacher is going to tolerate his "I'm the boss" routine?