I've been soldiering along the front lines of Mealtime the past 42 meals. (Maybe it has been 72? After all this verbal fire and bombing I have lost track.) I've taken the tactic "If you eat X, then you can have Y." so many times I can't stand to hear myself say it anymore. I am also exhausted from repeating "Just eat your food please."
Here's an idea that hasn't worked: Offer a variety of foods and eat them yourself, set an example they are sure to follow.
Case in Point >"I don't want that lettuce it has something green on it." "I don't like it, it has pepper on it. -Don't you know I only eat pepper if I shake it out of the shaker myself and lick it off my own hand?"
Here's another idea that seems to work for many -but not for us: If they like something and they will at least eat that, then offer that. They won't get scurvy from eating Mac & cheese for a few weeks in a row.
Case in Point > "I ate that yesterday but not today, maybe yesterday, maybe tomorrow, maybe next June."
Before this battle broke out I remember trying to set the rules of the game straight when she was still in a high chair. There was no mobile meal eating, snacking was kept in check, and even then I ate what she ate. That is how I came to discover the wonderful combination of applesauce and avocado.
Now, as we rapidly approach 3, watching her eat is like watching a hummingbird eat. It doesn't matter that she has fallen out of her seat at least 5 times, she continues to hover and rock on the edge of her seat with a fork balanced on a pinky just waiting to fly off and circle the block and coming back to think about taking another bite. I perpetually worry she will wind up with a fork through her nose before she learns that sitting still while eating isn't just some horrible punishment I invented. Yes, I've tried strapping her down, which leads to an obsession with how-to-escape.
Just when I have retreated and given up the fight. "OK fine, don't eat. I suppose you'll be fine with just 3 crackers & a leaf of lettuce." 5 minutes after the plates have been cleared the tiny hummingbird revs up the whine machine "I'm hunnnnngreeeee"
"Are you kidding!! Now you are going to throw the guilt back on me because you didn't eat your food?"
She's winning, even though I have the power to throw the gummi fruits in the trash, and save her should she choke or take her to the doctor if she were to wound herself with a fork, I don't have the power to chew her food or swallow for her and it leaves me defeated.
Here's an idea that hasn't worked: Offer a variety of foods and eat them yourself, set an example they are sure to follow.
Case in Point >"I don't want that lettuce it has something green on it." "I don't like it, it has pepper on it. -Don't you know I only eat pepper if I shake it out of the shaker myself and lick it off my own hand?"
Here's another idea that seems to work for many -but not for us: If they like something and they will at least eat that, then offer that. They won't get scurvy from eating Mac & cheese for a few weeks in a row.
Case in Point > "I ate that yesterday but not today, maybe yesterday, maybe tomorrow, maybe next June."
Before this battle broke out I remember trying to set the rules of the game straight when she was still in a high chair. There was no mobile meal eating, snacking was kept in check, and even then I ate what she ate. That is how I came to discover the wonderful combination of applesauce and avocado.
Now, as we rapidly approach 3, watching her eat is like watching a hummingbird eat. It doesn't matter that she has fallen out of her seat at least 5 times, she continues to hover and rock on the edge of her seat with a fork balanced on a pinky just waiting to fly off and circle the block and coming back to think about taking another bite. I perpetually worry she will wind up with a fork through her nose before she learns that sitting still while eating isn't just some horrible punishment I invented. Yes, I've tried strapping her down, which leads to an obsession with how-to-escape.
Just when I have retreated and given up the fight. "OK fine, don't eat. I suppose you'll be fine with just 3 crackers & a leaf of lettuce." 5 minutes after the plates have been cleared the tiny hummingbird revs up the whine machine "I'm hunnnnngreeeee"
"Are you kidding!! Now you are going to throw the guilt back on me because you didn't eat your food?"
She's winning, even though I have the power to throw the gummi fruits in the trash, and save her should she choke or take her to the doctor if she were to wound herself with a fork, I don't have the power to chew her food or swallow for her and it leaves me defeated.
3 comments:
I have no suggestions. However, we did just have a book from the library called Fussy Freya that my 3-year-old really liked about a fussy eater.
Good luck! My friend Susan always tells me, "Remember Paige, it came to pass! It didn't come to stay!"
Fussy Freya, I will look that up!
Take her to McDonalds. Papa said she ate everything there!
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