I do NOT know how to deal with our family's dinner time battle. Every F-ing night it's the same thing. The fight to get the kids to EAT. Aren't we just the meanest God-damn parents ever??? I mean I want to feed them. It's absolutely unconscionable isn't it?
Every afternoon I prep myself for the biggest problem, which is the peanut. I tell myself not to get into the power struggle and she'll eat if she's hungry. But, there is the issue, she is the queen of, "I'm not hungry!" and then minutes after I've excused everyone from the table and cleaned the dinner plates, she's fucking asking for something to EAT! I swear to God, it takes every fiber of my being (and an AMAZING husband) to just walk away and not scream like a maniac at her.
I know that so much of parenting is picking your battles and knowing what is worth pushing for, but I truly feel like this is important. I don't ask them to eat too much. I give them VERY age appropriate portions. It happens no matter WHAT is for dinner, whether it's salmon and green beans or mac n' cheese. I feel like this is an important battle to be fought and WON by ME. I want to raise children that will go out into this world knowing that you eat healthy foods when it is meal-time. (Not just graze on Goldfish crackers and cheese all throughout the day.) I want them to be exposed to a variety of foods and not grow up all picky and shit. I want them to know that this is what has been prepared for them and if they don't like it they can lump it. To me, these are important things to learn.
UGH!!! I am to the point where I don't want to eat dinner with my kids anymore. I wish I could just allow them to turn on the TV and I could read a nice book while I drink my glass(es) of wine. I just honestly don't know how to make this part of our family life more harmonious. I know that my kiddos are by no means the ONLY ones who pull this bullshit, but they are mine and therefore I must manage their bullshit and I just can't seem to.
So, until that time comes, I'll just continue to walk away from the dinner table multiple times each evening...
