In an effort to not send myself to the nut house before the girls are even teenagers, I've been trying not to stress the dinner situation too much lately. You don't want to eat? That's fine, I'm not going to force anyone to eat if they don't want to. I'm definitely not trying to have obese children. The only option after dinner will be left overs though. No more after dinner extra and absolutely no dessert if you can't finish your meal.
So far everyone is still chunky enough and not suffering from malnutrition. There are no more fights at the table about clearing plates and everyone is happy.
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Oh yeah .. dinner time can be really frustrating and it is definitely something I need to work on too!
ReplyDeleteWe keep bouncing our needs to let go of off each other! LOL
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Raising-Reagan.com
It's the same in our house! I get more "yuck, I don't want that" that I care for. We just tell them, "This is what's for dinner. If you don't want it, you don't eat." They haven't starved yet!
ReplyDeleteI def hate dinner time too. Piglet is so picky it drives me nuts!
ReplyDeletedinner time is the worst. our little one likes feeding the dog more than herself (even though the dog is outside!). she plants pieces of food on the floor for the dog to eat later... ugh. i try not to stress either, but its difficult.
ReplyDeleteI have the same approach. You can eat what I make (or at least try it for cryin' out loud) or you can go to bed hungry. And usually after many tens of minutes of whining and begging and pleading, he finally tries it and "Oh! Duh-yish-shush!" (*bang my head on the table*) (Naturally I'm only talking about Sam. Molly would eat her high chair tray if it wasn't strapped down.)
ReplyDeleteI have one rule at dinner -- you can tell me you don't like something until you are blue in the face, but you are going to at least try one bite, chew and swallow it. IF you still don't like it, then fine. I don't make them clean their plate, but tell them to eat until their belly is full. It's not always a won battle ... and sometimes they are asking for a snack as soon as dinner is over. In which case they can have fruit. Nothing else. Its mostly just our three year old I have issues with ... but one meal at a time -- she usually makes up for it the next morning at breakfast!!
ReplyDeleteLove that picture. Messy faces are the best.
ReplyDeleteMy 3 year old is the worst with dinner time. I have done the same as you and it seems to be working. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHi! Found your blog through the Walkabout. It's so nice to read that dinner is a battle for most moms..phew! I am a mom to a 14 month old and felt that I was the only one who dreaded dinner time, planning dinners for her (soo picky right now) and at what age can you actually tell them "eat what I make or go hungry?!". Really enjoyed this read.
ReplyDeleteMeghan @mamaslittlespoon.com
I have had to let it go to. It just frustrates me too much.
ReplyDeletei love this! our dinner times are sheer chaos and letting go is all i can do lol...
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