This is how I feel at every meal with my kids. And lately, that has been three meals a day on my own. Miguel's been working late most nights and is rarely home for dinner. Today was a perfect example. I gave them two choices from our leftovers to ensure that they would eat what I set before them. All I get is kids out of their chairs, dancing around, laying down in their chairs, and just about everything else but eating! I feel like I yell and yell and plead and beg them to eat. I even resorted to guilt trips today at lunch. I told Sophia that people are going to think I don't feed her and are going to take her away from me because they are going to think I'm a bad mom. She hasn't gained any weight in the last year! An hour later the food is still sitting on her plate. I get so exhausted from it. Today I was reaching my limit. I actually turned to the Lord during our meal. I had them all fold their arms and we said a prayer to help me be patient and for them to be obedient. I think I eventually gave up and realized it wasn't worth the fight. Sometimes I think my kids just tune me out. They flat out ignore me. I don't know any parenting alternatives to just yelling and spanking. That was the way I was raised.
Following this episode and while I'm writing this post I hear Gabriela explode on her sister. She was yelling at her and then she threw a bunch of toys all over the kitchen. My first response was to jerk her up and put her in time out. I finally humbled myself enough to ask her where she is learning that behavior, all the while knowing the answer, and when I asked her if it was from me, she said yes. I just sat myself next to her in time out. I told her that even Mommies need time out sometime and that we have got to come to a solution. I was kind of at a loss of ideas to be honest. We've both got a problem, but I guess the first step is recognition.
How do you get through meal time with out losing it? What is your discipline method?
4 comments:
meal time. food...its a four letter word for a reason! i feel the same way its so stressful. Especially when you put lots of effort into making something that is at least somewhat healthy and good for them! Sky is finally doing a little better with meals, i have had to cut snacking back A LOT. Also i don't let them drink as much milk, i think if they are drinking lots of milk it fills them up and they don't eat as much at meal times. I have noticed this has even helped Kylie eat better. She is the one that struggles the most. i guess we just have to keep going and going. eventually they will get hungry enough and eat :)
(ps from nursery i know that both Sophia and Juliann loved marshmallows, crackers and all of those really "healthy" things) :)
Sorry you're having so much trouble. I hate mealtimes alone because of all the demands and competing needs (okay, and I hate to cook), but luckily, only one of mine is a picky eater. Are your kids really hungry at meals? Have you tried cutting out snacks? Sorry I don't have many ideas.
When my children were little, my daughter would not eat period. Her doctor said she would when she was hungry and I was NOT to feed her ANY snacks between the meals she did not eat. In other words, you don't eat lunch, no afternoon snack. I made sure the afternoon snacks were to die for LOL. Wasn't long until there was no problem.
Blessings
Kim Chrisman
PS: I agree with the reader who said no milk or juice in sippy cups between meals. Only water.
How funny! I was about to comment about snacks, but I won't since I see everyone else did. The best book on the subject that helped me a ton is Get Kids to Eat Great and Love it! Tons of fabulous ideas and totally turned around the way my Sophie eats. Good luck!!
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