The small amount of peas he did eat aren't going to have a marked affect on his health. We made him pleanty mad and he was unpleasent the rest of the night. We were frustrated too.
So what's the compulsion of parents to make their kids eat nasty things they know the kids won't like? Brussle sprouts, cooked to death broccoli (my kids like broccoli, when it's just barely steamed or raw), lima beans ect. Is it really about a power struggle? About the vegetables or food item itself? Or about teaching your kid that not everything is pleasent, and we must endure? They will need coping skills in the future and if you can't make your way through a small amount of pease, you are going to be in big trouble later on? Is it about parents thinking themselves successful when they see a child's cleaned plate? Does feeling good about yourself as a parent take precedent over your child's state of mind? Is it about trying new things or as even Meg tells us now "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit"? I am not sure what it's really about, all of those things and more I guess. The question is, if you don't eat your peas because you really don't like them, do you still get ice cream at the end of night?
Any ideas?
4 comments:
I hate canned green peas but love frozen peas and fresh peas. I am a stickler with my kids to eat what is made for dinner as long as it is not something questionable. Usually when I know dinner might be hard for one of my kiddos, I try to offer dessert contingent on them eating their dinner. Madelynn is my gold star eater but it works really well with Abby and even Natalie.
Canned peas are disgusting. Sorry. It's just true.
My kids have to eat their vegis, but I try not to set them up for failure by serving ones they gag on. I have very vivid childhood memories that involve gagging on squash. ...that said, no dessert is reasonable. I would have traded no desert to not have to eat squash.
We are pretty strict with our kids when eating different foods, but I do allow each child one or two things they just hate. (I love peas, but I don't touch their beloved seaweed with a 10 ft pole!) This isn't a verbal agreement, but just this unsaid understanding that as long as they haven't ruled out every food that I put in front of them, I can understand one kid not liking tomatoes or mushrooms. I do waht Becky does, also. If dinner didn't turn out quite as appealing as I would like, I pull the dessert card and it normally gets everyone through one serving. Good luck!
Peas. Yuk. As long as he isn't a real picky eater, give the kid a pass on the peas. I pick cucumbers out of salad-won't eat them at all and can't imagine anyone trying to make me eat them. You fix food you like to eat so generally, you don't have to skip dessert, right? Peas aren't going to make a difference in his eternal salvation. Love him, pray with him, play with him, teach him to respect others and respect that he doesn't like peas. Nuf said. Love you all and miss you. Mom
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