Carson has started eating breakfast while standing on an empty tote at the kitchen counter. Sure it’s a pain in the rump to clean up, but I DON’T CARE. I’m just happy that he’s eating.
Thank you all so much for all the truly useful advice you all offered me a few weeks ago concerning Carson’s dismal eating habits. I’ve definitely cut down on milk and snacks, and have tried to be all, “Oh I don’t care what you eat! Fine with me if all you have all day is one cheerio and two sips of water! Noooo problem! It’s fine, really. Fine!”
His eating IS getting better. Baby steps, baby steps.
******************************
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Sassafras is offering one lucky winner a kid’s pizza making kit! This would be a great Christmas gift for your budding chef! And what a terrific way to get your kids’ involved in the kitchen!
To enter, just leave a comment on this post and cross your fingers that you’re the big winner!
Comments will be closed on this entry at 7 AM, EST, November 20, 2008.
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Comments closed!!! Thanks for playing everyone!
supermommy
November 18, 2008 at 7:57 am
I’ve come to the realization that they really won’t starve themselves so I’ve given up the fight to get them to eat. Now if I could only get my DH to do the same.
supermommy´s lastest post..With Much Appreciation
lceel
November 18, 2008 at 8:02 am
Yup. They will eat, eventually. It won’t be as much as you would like as soon as you would like but he will eat. When our sons went through that phase, we told them they could not do anything while WE ate. They couldn’t play or do videos or watch TV. Until we were done. Their mealtime soon synced up with ours.
lceel´s lastest post..SWMBO’s birthday bash
Mom24@4evermom
November 18, 2008 at 8:05 am
You can totally ignore this assvice, I just hope it doesn’t make you mad, because that’s truly not the spirit in which it was intended. It’s just that I’ve been through more stages than you have, and I think there’s a good chance you’re going to regret this one. I would highly recommend you rethink your stand. As long as you’re doing the great job of ‘not caring’ what he eats and letting it all be in his control, I would enforce the good manners rule. Sitting down at the table, etc. Not requiring those kind of things can seem like a good idea at the time, but you’re still sending the message that ‘I’ll let you do anything, as long as you eat’.
Mom24@4evermom´s lastest post..If you pray…
OHmommy
November 18, 2008 at 8:12 am
We do what we have to, don’t we?
I would never blog about it. But I still occasionally spoon feed my children.
We do what we have to.
Great pictures.
OHmommy´s lastest post..O’s Favorite Things
mapsgirl
November 18, 2008 at 8:16 am
Kids are funny creatures. They know to eat when they are hungry…how did I lose that ability?
mapsgirl´s lastest post..bloglines 0 google reader 1
Beth
November 18, 2008 at 8:32 am
It’s just a stage….I’m like you, do whatever it takes. He’s now appreciating the ketchup smiley faces and the dinosaur sandwiches (found an awesome sandwich cutter at Walmart for $1).
Half the time his lunch sits on the table all day and he’ll snack on it all afternoon (so will the fruit flies).
Heidi
November 18, 2008 at 8:39 am
I just love your camera. I realize that is so not the point of this post, but I do just love the clarity. *sigh & green with envy*
Glad he’s eating.
Heidi´s lastest post..Damn it Dora!
Jennifer
November 18, 2008 at 8:42 am
@Mom24, I don’t think it’s bad manners to stand in the kitchen to eat. In our last house we had a bar that he’d like to sit at to eat. In this rental, we don’t have that, so I improvised with the tote so that he could “eat up at the bar.”
I appreciate your advice, but I disagree that this is bad manners. I also don’t think that I’m taking the stand that “I’ll let you do anything as long as you eat.”
wright
November 18, 2008 at 8:43 am
Hope the eating gets better soon. My philosphy is really do whatever works for you!
wright´s lastest post..Rut
Connie @ Young and Relentless
November 18, 2008 at 8:51 am
I dread mealtimes soooo much! When you last wrote about this…I had one toddler that ate sporadically and one that ate everything on her plate. Now both of them are on a hunger strike!
Connie @ Young and Relentless´s lastest post..Sad, Mad, Glad…
all things BD
November 18, 2008 at 8:53 am
Oh, how the pendulum swings. I’m now struggling to get my kids to STOP eating. I had to outlaw special treats like Cheetos, Ritz Bits, etc because they simply could not control themselves and would eat the whole box the first two days after I bought them.
I now try to keep only “healthy” snacks around so that when they sneak out at 6am to get food (oh yes they do), they’re at least sneaking healthy food.
all things BD´s lastest post..Safe and Well
Momma Mac
November 18, 2008 at 9:06 am
I write this as my child is eating a banana and toast (in a baggie) with juice while sitting in her bed. It’s how she eats breakfast every morning. How do I get her to eat the rest of her meals? By putting the food in a zip lock bag. I’m not sure why it works it just does! As for manners when she actually sits at the table to eat amongst “real people” well they’re just fine!
Momma Mac´s lastest post..My Nakie Baby
Ashlie- Mommycosm
November 18, 2008 at 9:11 am
My kids love to make pizza. They BAM! it like Emeril.
Ashlie- Mommycosm´s lastest post..It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Burgh Baby
November 18, 2008 at 9:16 am
I swear that if I so much as make eye contact when Alexis is trying something new or eating something “questionable,” she will stop instantly. It’s all about not having a Care Face, even when you have a kid who will eat most anything.
Burgh Baby´s lastest post..Splish Jump Score
britt
November 18, 2008 at 9:23 am
if my three year old would eat while suspended from the rafters by the toenails, and even if she washed everything down with a bottle of syrup i would let her if it meant more than 5 bites a day. so i feel your pain.
my baby on the other hand would eat all day if he could. especially my boobs could produce floor cheerios. that would be heaven!
britt´s lastest post..an open letter to those who wish to have skype sex with me
Sarah
November 18, 2008 at 9:24 am
Oooh yum! *G*
Sarah´s lastest post..The Death of Santa
Jean@workingmomma247
November 18, 2008 at 9:30 am
Whatever works to get him to eat is all that matters. Dirty totes aside.
I’m on a giveaway dry spell..I haven’t won anything in a good 9 months, maybe longer. Crossing my fingers on this one.
Jean@workingmomma247´s lastest post..Bee Stings ,Malls and Cheesecakes Oh My!
cgogis
November 18, 2008 at 9:45 am
I think it’s great that you’re letting him eat at the counter! I let my son eat in the living room and just leave his plate on the coffee table throughout the day. He grazes all day long, but he eats when he’s hungry and I don’t have to yell “hurry up and eat” or whatever. It’s very freeing.
Thanks for the chance to win!
cgogis at yahoo dot com
Madness and Sense
November 18, 2008 at 9:55 am
Ha! Good one. I will keep that one in mind. I am all for creativity in parenting.
You can still have wonderful, mannerly children who know how to behave in a restaurant or in someone else’s house while compromising with them at home and exploring their quirks.
In fact, we’ll see if your kid’s quirk is my kid’s quirk and pull out the storage bucket for lunch today…
Madness and Sense´s lastest post..The Preschooler Buzz
jen
November 18, 2008 at 10:08 am
way to think outside the box, mama!
i swear … having children causes us to jump in and out of the box constantly doesn’t it?
jen´s lastest post..maybe i should go and buy a lottery ticket?
Heather, Queen of Shake Shake
November 18, 2008 at 10:14 am
Way to improvise!
Mom24: the wise say to pick your battles. I know Jennifer isn’t letting Carson have his way in all things, but to not allow any flexibility as a parent in a minor thing such as this? I am 100% positive Carson won’t grow up with horrible manners because of how Jennifer handled a very typical toddler eating issue.
Heather, Queen of Shake Shake´s lastest post..Can you feel summer?
paula
November 18, 2008 at 10:16 am
very cool site my son has recently become fascinated with cooking & helping in the kitchen this will help with some Christmas ideas!
paula´s lastest post..just do not like his music
iMommy
November 18, 2008 at 10:26 am
Picky eaters are so rough! ::fingers crossed to win for my picky eater::
iMommy´s lastest post..Holiday Shopping
Jen L.
November 18, 2008 at 10:41 am
Ooh, good trick! And probably easier to clean up than milk dripped on carpet! (I just finished rubbing Resolve on juice stains. ICK!)
Fingers crossed! I love making pizza!
Jen L.´s lastest post..NOOOO! This is NOT happening now!
Sus @ Wiggle Rooms
November 18, 2008 at 10:56 am
Hey I love Sassafras.
And am glad Carson is stepping up to the proverbial plate.
Sus @ Wiggle Rooms´s lastest post..Happily Ever Afters
Tracy
November 18, 2008 at 11:10 am
@Mom24@4evermom My husband will sometimes spoon feed our 4 and 2 year old! It doesn’t work when I do it, but somehow they will open up their mouths like little birds for daddy.
FWIW, my picky eater seems to be slowly growing out of it at age 6. He’s willing to at least try new things and his texture issues are less severe. Hang in there!
Tracy´s lastest post..Retail Therapy
catnip
November 18, 2008 at 11:19 am
My boy loves to watch all the shows on Food Network – and loves to help me cook. This would be perfect for him.
catnip´s lastest post..nothing
Lynn
November 18, 2008 at 11:35 am
Thanks, Love this for a Christmas idea!!
Heather~Domestic Extraordinaire
November 18, 2008 at 11:42 am
I was wondering what those photos were about in your photostream the other day.
I say if you can get him to eat and he is happy doing it then woohoo!!
Heather~Domestic Extraordinaire´s lastest post..Is 31 too young for the Miracle Ear?
Kgirl
November 18, 2008 at 11:52 am
Crossing them fingers!
Glad to hear the eating is getting better.
kj @ Where my boys at?
November 18, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Just took our 3yr old twins to the doc and they is 5 pounds difference between them. Doc’s not too concerned about the picky eater. He’ll eat when he’s hungry, we’re told. OK!
kj @ Where my boys at?´s lastest post..Cut it off!
Jill
November 18, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Dinnertime is my 3 year old’s worst nightmare. We’re still figuring out ways to get her to eat, while not letting her have the control of throwing tantrums and throwing food. It drives me nuts.
Jill´s lastest post..The Weight Has Now Shifted From My Shoulders To My Abdomen
Hydes Like Us
November 18, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Good for you… stick with the baby steps. He’ll get there!
Mama DB
November 18, 2008 at 12:16 pm
awesome! I’m glad he’s eating. We’ve also had to cut down on the snacks and milk in the afternoons. My kids actually ate salmon last night. I may just keel over from the shock.
Mama DB´s lastest post..Safe and Well
Rachel
November 18, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Alyssa has her good days and bad days. Last night I made a chicken casserole and made some green beans as well. She ate nothing but green beans and kept asking for more. If I made green beans tonight though, she would look at me like I had lost my mind.
BlueBella
November 18, 2008 at 12:31 pm
We definitely do what we have to! I used to feed the twins off my plate when I ate dinner after they were finished with theirs – I found they would eat whatever I was eating, even if they flat out refused it minutes ago on their own plate. It was aggravating, but once I stopped feeding them from my plate they seemed to eat better from their own. But I’m of the firm opinion there really is no “win” here when it comes to toddlers and eating . . empty tote in the kitchen here we come
BlueBella´s lastest post..On A Day Like Today
Colleen - Mommy Always Wins
November 18, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Huh. May have to try that for dinner!
My kids would love the prize! Pizza’s the one thing I know they’ll always eat!
Colleen – Mommy Always Wins´s lastest post..Stream of (un)consciousness
feener
November 18, 2008 at 12:37 pm
fingers crossed ….
feener´s lastest post..I will..
Miss
November 18, 2008 at 1:06 pm
HAHA Well at least he wasn’t sitting IN the tub.
Miss´s lastest post..My Soundtrack
Steph
November 18, 2008 at 1:17 pm
ooh how cute! pick me, pick me!
Leah
November 18, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I guess kids will eat when they’re hungry!
MadWomanMeg
November 18, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Glad to hear he’s eating better. It’s so hard to watch them be that picky and hear them refuse over and over again. I think CJ has eaten PB&J and Hot Dogs almost every meal this week. Zoiks.
MadWomanMeg´s lastest post..Foto Friday – Giveaway!
Jennie
November 18, 2008 at 2:15 pm
At least he’s eating in the kitchen not on the carpet! My son loves to help me make homemade pizza crust so this set would be perfect for him.
Jennie´s lastest post..Flickr Mosaic (100th post!)
Teri
November 18, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I agree with the pick your battles. TO me, other things are way more important to fight with them about, than where you eat your breakfast.
Teri´s lastest post..5 Years and 1 Week.
ragtopday
November 18, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Eating is way more about us, than about them. Which is easy to say, and hard to live by, believe me, I know!
I have one great eater, and one not-so-great, but they both LOVE pizza, and they love when we do make your own on English Muffins. Doing it for REAL would be even cooler!
ragtopday´s lastest post..Cost of a Second Date
tuesday
November 18, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I am not looking forward to this part of toddlerhood again!
tuesday´s lastest post..I Love My Visitors
carma
November 18, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I’m posting and crossing
Anglophile Football Fanatic
November 18, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Notice: the comment luv is still out to get me. effer.
You want today’s giveaway – I just know you do.
And, if they eat? Who cares about the mess?
Anglophile Football Fanatic´s lastest post..Where’s Shania Twain When You Need Her?
kelly
November 18, 2008 at 3:39 pm
At least he’s eating! I love when moms dont go by the book! Makes me feel better!!
Maggie
November 18, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I’ll take it!