Tuesday, July 27, 2010

where did my children go?

In my house, we have food battles. No, not food fights where people start throwing things and I am left to clean up the mess. But rather, food battles where I tell my children what they have to eat and they refuse, ultimately heading to bed hungry.

Most of our battles center around vegetables. Dizzle won't touch them. Any of them. All things green are apparently evil and will kill you if they touch your lips. In fact, if you even look at them, your eyes will ooze out of your head and you will die a slow painful death. Doodle agrees wholeheartedly with Dizzle, but at least I can get her to eat corn and beans (yes, I know neither of those are technically a vegetable.)

Dilly, on the other hand, is a saint. If it is food, she'll eat it. She doesn't care if it's a fruit, a vegetable, a starch or an internal organ. That girl is hungry and she doesn't care how she gets fed.

Our vegetable battles have been going on with Dizzle and Doodle since they transitioned from pureed baby foods. With Dizzle, that was over four years ago. Four years is a long time and I was almost ready to give up. Until yesterday. Because yesterday, Dizzle and Doodle asked to have salad for lunch. And not only did they ask, but they both ate it and wanted more. No bribing. No yelling. No hunger strikes. WTF?

It's obvious to me what has happened. Someone came into my home and stole my children and replaced them with androids or they were successfully brainwashed. Either way, I don't really care. All I really care about is that the next time Dizzle and Doodle tell me they hate vegetables, I can laugh in their faces, tell them they are lying and make them eat them. Being a mom is so awesome ...

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I was but a mere tyke, my sister would cry if one of her foods touched another!

Cole said...

Someone once told me the secret to not having food battles with your kids is compromise. Agree that the parten decideds when and what they eat and the child can decide if and how much they eat. If the child doesn't want to eat it, then there is no arguing because that is his choice - but the parent may choose to not let them eat a snack later or will put the same food in front of them for snack. I only have a 9 month old who eats anything I put in front of her so I haven't had to test it. Not looking forward to food battles!

gba_gf said...

yup - it's all about the marketing. when my kids used to say, "I don't like that!", we would reply with "Oh yes you do, it's your favorite"

Shannon said...

So funny! You've definitely got them next time they refuse a veggie!

bobbi said...

I just want to know where I can get 4 more androids just like yours?!? Food battles exhaust me daily...

Brigitte said...

Good work on the salad! (whatever it was that you did...?!)
I can already identify with you and I only have a 3 year old to battle with (the other's still on the puréed stuff so those battles are yet to come...).
Master 3 likes veg one day but not the next... very frustrating when you've prepared his favourite veg and he turns his nose up at it. Needless to say, I can also identify with the 'going to be hungry' scenario... :-)

Rae said...

My daughter won't eat veggies either...except green beans. Such a picky eater!

Colleen said...

My boys were like that about onions, until one day they tasted an onion ring and loved it. Now I tell them how much they love onions and I put them in everything...they can't argue anymore :)

As for the rest of the veggies, well we're still struggling...

Marlene said...

Well in that case, hopefully the androids will stick around! Yay veggies!

Unknown said...

My kids occasionally amaze me by eating things they never would before. I'm curious to know when they become more consistent.

mommaof3ontherun said...

My daughters love salads. They don't even know they are vegetables!

MarciaG said...

My daughter is 6 and the struggles are finally over. She's too old! She does what I tell her. My 2.5 year old on the other hand. ugh. Green beans for lunch and dinner and the occassional sweet potato and we are not fighitng anymore. This is a battle I choose not to fight.

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

Whenever you figure out what happened to them, will you please let me know so I can have it done to my husband?

Michelle said...

Could you please send the android fairy to my house?!?! Food battles are a constant affair here with my youngest. The only veggie he'll eat is broccoli (or "trees" as he calls it)...go figure?

Tami said...

i am 35 and i have just started to like fruits and veggies. i prefer them ALL raw, cooked make me run for the hills

KovasP said...

It's just because you were ready to give up. Children want their parents to suffer, but not to their wit's end. Respect the pattern and stay patient!

Pining for Pinterest said...

That sounds exactly like life in my house!!

funderson said...

Oh my gosh, if my kid asked for salad I'd keel over dead...

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

I grew up on a dairy/beef farm. My parents believed in "cleaning your plate!" (fyi - I believed in "I didn't put it on MY plate, you did!")

1. I spent a lot of time at the kitchen table.
2. We had a fat dog.

Emz said...

you are my freaking hero with those shirts.

Awesome. Love the site.....I'll pass it on for sure!!

Anabela (Bela) Neves said...

That is great they are asking for it themselves. My DD never liked salad, than 2 years ago she always wanted it and she eats it everyday now and loves it!

suzy, http://countdownto13.blogspot.com/ said...

I feel your pain! It is a constant struggle at my house. I honestly left my daughter this note when I left the house for work a few days ago. "NO BROWNIES for breakfast! EEEEEEK!"
There is a cookbook that adds vege puree into everything - maybe I should try that! Deceptively Delicious http://www.amazon.com/Deceptively-Delicious-Simple-Secrets-Eating/dp/0061251348

dawn @ running the dawn said...

wow, that is so exciting! i was just like your littlest: if it was food and it was in front of me, i would eat it. in fact, my mom used to call me "food face." thanks mom!

Unknown said...

My youngest is such a good eater!! He will eat anything and everything. The others....not so much.
Nice blackmail amo for next time :) Being a mom does have its perks!

Anonymous said...

i am 25 and I still don't like vegetables so i can't say much lol!

Jen said...

I pray for this day....

Unknown said...

my son doesn't like vegetables either but last week he asked for carrots! You could have knocked me over with a feather!

MCM Mama said...

Yay!

I don't touch this battle often, but my kids have 3 veggies that they will always eat, so they get one of those plus one bite of whatever I'm having.

One of my cousins ate nothing but hot dogs and pizza for a while and now he's a vegetarian, so there's always hope.

Jeri said...

My picky eating habits lasted until I was 24. They appear to have a fairer outlook. ;)

Unknown said...

Ahaha. I am so looking forward to having kids. :) They are just hilarious little creatures.