As parents, John and I have had to face the music that we have intense behavioral issues with our kids around food because we never laid down the LAW early. I don't want to go into it all here, but suffice to say we have WHINING.
This is of course is demoralizing to the cook not to mention extremely draining and counter-productive. When I started on this "self-education" with regards to planning and preparing meals, I didn't know what WAR we had in store for us. So we have had to GET TOUGH and stick to our guns. Turning this around is going to be challenging...in fact this one change in our family has taken all the GUTS I've got.
So here's our new LAW. "Mommy's job is to make the food and your job is to eat it. You are required to taste test and if you determine you don't LIKE the food, then you are allowed to make (yourself) one peanut butter & jelly sandwich".
END OF STORY.
So...over and over again we have "I don't like this", etc and we have held firm with the LAW. The kitchen closes shortly after dinner is served so making that sandwich needs to happen after a few bites or no sandwich at all.
Do you think this is too harsh? Do you think it is mean to not allow your kids to rummage through the cupboards for an alternative to the meal you spent money on and lovingly cooked? We came to realize it was IRRESPONSIBLE and UNLOVING of us as parents to allow them to continue in the bad habits we had always allowed. Hard, hard lessons for all. We continue to fight the good fight of "dinner discipline" which is really more character training-for BOTH parent and children!
