Dinner has become World War 111 at our house lately.
Our almost 2 year old little moose has become quite an obstinate nightmare at the table.
He refuses to eat, throws food, cries uncontrollaby, screams like a banshee (that one's really fun) and is generally monster-like. The meal usually proceeds amidst wails with one of us holding the sasa up in one hand, and his spoon in the other. And this doesn't always result in more food being eaten, but always in more crying. Wow, it looks even worse in writing!
I believe it is discipline-related as he's been particularly difficult and defiant lately as well.
If anyone has any tips for the dinner situation, or discipline in general around 2 years of age, they would be greatly appreciated. I'm beginning to dread mealtimes!!
7 comments:
They will eat when they are hungry. Don't fight it. He doesn't even know why he is doing it. Could be something physical (teeth, tummy, throat, just not having a growing/hunger spell).
Maybe he thinks he is not getting enough attention since the baby came. This is not a reflection on you, it's just the "me" gene we are all born with.
Nevertheless, there is no need for throwing food and screaming and ruining everyone else's meal.
My scholarly advice of the day...no snacks between meals, no juice before meals (sugar drinks fill them up). Extra cuddling and attention when he is behaving well.
If ornery child will not eat, he may spend dinner time in bedroom. When he happens to sit nicely at table, reward him with non-food item and positive attention. He will soon realize that it doesn't work to have fits. Like a child throwing a tantrum in the store. There are ways of dealing with that. Remember, he will try to train you his way, but you are the boss.
There are always tricks to make them eat...make the food into a face or some shape that is fun to eat...set up an indoor picnic lunch and eat on the floor...make the kids pretend they are kitties and give them pretend kitty food. Just to see if it's a food issue or something bigger. Don't do this everytime, you will just be catering to the child and will exhaust your already tired self.
Don't sweat it. If it is made into a big issue, it will be a big issue, and everybody will suffer. It will pass. They won't die if they skip a meal. Been there, tried it all. Always found the helicopter spoon rescuing the monkeys in the broccoli trees to be effective until that grew old. :)
Well, parenthood takes patience and creativity. May God grant you a big dose of those. And that's my two bits for the day. Take it or leave it.
-old ant
p.s. Now my most stubborn eaters eat everything in site and I can't keep them away from the kitchen.
wow thank you so much!!
patience and creativity is right!
I especially like the helicopter rescuing the monkeys trick (0:
seriously, there are so many helpful tidbits there, thanks for taking the time to help us out!!
:) Hope one of them helps. Love you guys.
p.s. Just had another brainwave...
since your munchkins like music, try playing classical music or something soothing during the evening meal (eg. this would not be a good time for Flight of the Bumble Bee). Or turn down the lights and have a candle lit dinner. On second thought, perhaps you do not want to encourage romance at this point in your marriage. Well, try anything for distraction from regular routine. Works for me. In fact, I believe I have just inspird myself for tonight's dinner. Thanks. :)
hahahaha.
good messages ant. heehee. i love reading your inspiring and sophisticated blabber!! :)
best advice: read what carla wrote! ahha
i have to say, when there have been food issues, we have taken away snack privileges and made meal time an "eat it or beat it" sort of thing. either you eat what it in front of you, or you eat it later when you get hungry.
the only problem i have with doing that is: i don't want to be a 24 hour kitchen maid. i am NOT here to serve food to any member of my family when they demand it, as bad as that may sound. it isn't practical.
(mostly because we had a "snack addiction" problem, and julia would be "not so hungry " for regular food, and always hungry as soon as she left the table... but for SNACK food. we needed to put an end to that....)
aaaaaaaah. okay, so i'm just babbling now. i love you sis . hope Moose likes his room until he can give you a nice meal as a family again!! :) heehee. you are a good mama.
love you. su
You are a wonderful Mommy and I know you will get this figured out. I always remind myself when they are in a really terrible phase that IT IS JUST A PHASE! It will end soon and you will be able to laugh about it! :) And you have a very wise Auntie who stole all my other advice :)
Ode to the horrible phases. I feel your pain sista!
Sorry Sarah I don't know any tricks. I am dealing with a drink spitter. Levi holds everything in his mouth and spits the liquid out anywhere he pleases. So his supper bowl looks like soup!.
Post a Comment