I have 3 awesome little boys. The six year old is reading at the top of his class. The four year old is extremely talented athletically. And the two year old has more than his fair share of charm and humor. Unfortunately, none of them like food.
I fully understand that this is not a rare situation. In fact, as far as families go, mine is about as average as they come. This piece of knowledge in no way makes our nightly dinner routine of whining and bargaining less annoying.
If you are what you eat, my kids are hotdogs, bread, cake, Kool-Aid and applesauce. Never mind that in the last week the hubby and I have cooked baked chicken with beans and rice, homemade chicken noodle soup (twice), vegetable soup, cornbread, pot roast with veggies, scratch biscuits, garlic cheddar biscuits, hamburgers, french-fries, pan-fried chicken, roasted potato wedges, scratch mashed potatoes, broccoli, and the list goes on. So nightly we face the whining and crying.
“I don’t like it!”
“This is yucky!”
“Do I have to eat it?!”
“Can I just take one bite?”
“Bleck!”
“No! No! No! You are a mean mommy!”
“Can I have a hotdog?”
I like to think I am a fairly patient woman. But this, THIS, makes me crazy. I mean no-wire-hangers-ever crazy, but without the physical violence (Google “Mommy Dearest” if you need help with the reference).
So tonight I had a thought—sloppy joes and French fries! Should be perfect, right? They love bread and ketchup, and a sloppy Joe is nothing but bread and ketchup with a little meat stirred in. And what kid does not like French fries?!
That would be my sweet children.
Dinner has been the biggest blow to my self-esteem nightly for approximately six years. However, tonight we had a breakthrough. The baby loved the sandwich but avoided the fries (totally uncharacteristic—He liked the sandwich so much he just forgot the fries. That is what I am going with.) The other two sucked down the fries and actually tried the sandwich without whining. They both said that they didn’t really like it, but each ate half without argument when I told them, VERY calmly, that they needed to eat some of their dinner.
So I am not sure if the turnaround was because I lost it earlier this week when I told them that if they whined about dinner (chicken legs, macaroni and cheese, and corn), they would go to bed. Immediately, in their clothes, do not pass go, do not collect $200. That may have been a bit harsh, but no one complained and everyone ate.
And that is why, should ever come eat dinner in my house, you will have two menu choices: Take it or leave it.
Hi Jill! I am enjoying reading your blog. I have one as well but just cannot seem to make the time to write. I haven't written in mine in well over a year. Maybe you can be my inspiration. You can check out my old posts if you want. http://ellenholladay.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh so hard. I totally feel your pain. My little one will eat anything you put in front of him, but Griff???? Um, no. He exists on chicken nuggets, french fries, gold fish, sunchips, hot dogs and sauasage biscuits. Hopefully one day, he'll grow out of it....but until then, guess I'll be cooking two meals. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteKB