Sunday, July 19, 2009

America's Funniest Home Videos


Remember watching America's Funniest Home Videos and laughing at clips of little kids falling asleep sitting on the toilet or falling asleep while eating their food? It always made me laugh, but I couldn't help but think at the same time.... 'what kid really does that?'

Our kid does..... but not on the peaceful terms that you would think. The other day Quincy was TICKED that he had to eat the dinner which we were having. I am not a fan of purely catering to my child's pickyness.... so he usually has to eat what we're eating. Though some meals are more successful with him than others are I feel it's a good way to experience new foods for him.

This particular night he was NOT about to eat the food, no matter how much enthusiasm we tried to show or encouragement we gave him. He wouldn't budge. Did I mention that Quincy's the product of two first children? Talk about being stubborn. I was never a picky eater as a kid and for the most part tried lots of things. Tyler, however was probably one of THE pickiest eaters ever. To this day I struggle to get my husband to eat certain foods. Image the life I live in the kitchen!

After having several talks with Quincy trying to convince him that we weren't going to make anything new for him we walked away to leave him and his food in the chair. He proceeded with a long tantrum of screaming at the top of his lungs. This probably went on for half an hour, at which point you would have thought the police were going to show up. Despite his lengthy efforts to get our attention, we managed not to cave. Eventually he ended up crying himself to sleep in his high chair and this is how he ended up:
Now I know some of you are gasping at how mean we are as the parents of this sweet angel. Seriously though, he went to bed hungry and woke up the next morning with the appetite of a full grown man. He ate an adult size portion or oatmeal, followed by 2 eggs, juice, and a cup of milk. He even ate a hearty lunch and dinner. So I think all in all, it helped to kick start our picky eater's appetite. We called his bluff and now he knows for the future what will happen.

11 comments:

CourtneyAnne said...

I think this is awesome!! Way to go Kati! I would do the exact same thing if I was in the situation. I think that too many parents these days give into their kids causing more stress in their own lives. Once the kid figures out he isn't going to get his way, he/she remembers that time they went to bed with no dinner and they change the behavior! In my book you get an A+!

KELLYHOWARD said...

that's too funny. good payback for tyler for how was! what was it that he wouldn't eat?

Shera said...

That is what we do too...If they don't like what is for dinner, too bad for them :)

lindquist said...

But it's so sad.....

Wii are the Nelsons said...

inspiring...Mike was a really picky eater as a kid so I really hope James is. It's nice to see how other parents do it and how it went. Hope we can be strong like that

Cherie said...

Good for you Kati! That's hard to stick to the plan, but it makes for a happier family in the end when the kids have good boundaries.

Lily wouldn't eat a meal I made once (she usually will stuff ANYTHING in her mouth) and she cried and cried. Finally she just went to bed. She woke up at 1:30 that night and wouldn't go to sleep again because she was hungry. I felt bad, but I think she survived and she hasn't cried since.

Lance and Becky said...

I use to fall asleep in my food when I was little. I would wake up with food all over my face. My mom thought it was soooo funny.

Unknown said...

Q i will give u whatever u want.thats to MEAN ... it will be payback 4 all the stress and loss of hair ur mom gave me:):):)
Grandpa lgl
xxoo

lindquist said...

Ya, right. That was written by the guy who made a was practically force feeding Spencer tuna noodle casserole! HA! Boy, how he's forgot...

Can't wait to see you guys!

Love,
Grammie

lindquist said...

grandpa would NEVER do that to Qbear
xxoo GR lgl

Kati Howard said...

Yeah and don't forget how Spencer was always gagging on peaches(not to mention the tuna noodle casserole)and you made him eat those too. OH and you guys ALWAYS made us eat cream of wheat PLAIN... gross!

I still to this day can't eat it, nor can I fathom making Q eat it. We're not such terrible parents... come on! And just for the record, we DO reward him when he does eat well (for example, he gets to eat dessert with us AFTER he's finished his dinner.) So there.