In a 24-hour period, my children seem to request snacks a staggering ten times—or perhaps even more. Their understanding of meal times is still developing; however, they’ve grasped that snacks can be requested at any hour. Here are ten typical moments throughout the day when my kids express their snack cravings:
6 A.M.
“Mom, can I get up and have a snack?”
Really? Your eyes have barely opened and you’re already asking for food? I can’t entirely blame them; I feel the same way about my morning coffee.
8 A.M.
“Mom, I got dressed! Can I have a snack now?”
I’m not sure when I unintentionally instilled this peculiar reward system in my kids, but they believe they deserve a treat for even the smallest achievements. It’s as if they’re conditioned like Pavlov’s dogs—accomplish a task, receive a snack.
10 A.M.
“Mom, I’m all buckled! Can I have a snack please?”
My children have figured out that I always carry emergency snacks in my bag whenever we go out. You never know when we might end up in a situation where hunger strikes, and no one wants to deal with cranky kids.
11:30 A.M.
“It’s the snack store!”
To my kids, the grocery store is akin to an all-you-can-eat buffet. The abundance of food and choices is overwhelming! If I refuse to grant their snack request, they often help themselves while I’m preoccupied. I turn around for just a moment to grab a zucchini, and when I look back, they’re covered in chocolate like miniature magicians.
1 P.M.
“Mom, this is boring! I need a snack!”
Waiting is excruciating for them. Whether at the bank, library, or even at a red light, they equate stillness with the need for cheese and crackers.
4:40 P.M.
“Is it dinnertime yet?”
As soon as they arrive home from school, they request food. To avoid the chaos of preparing dinner with a child attached to my leg, I find it necessary to provide a snack to tide them over.
6:45 P.M.
“Mommy? I’m still hungry. Can I have a snack?”
Like clockwork, about ten minutes after I’ve cleared the dinner table and washed the dishes, a sticky hand will tug at my shirt, and a voice that could melt hearts will beg for a snack. If they’re truly going through a growth spurt, I often give in with something like a Mini Babybel® cheese, which I feel good about.
8 P.M.
“I need a snack before bed!”
It took me longer than I’d like to admit to realize that if my six-year-old claims to be hungry after 7:30 p.m., it actually means she’s stalling bedtime. Now, I recognize this as a cue that sleep is approaching.
2 A.M.
“Mom, I can’t sleep. Can I have a snack?”
I’d love to say I’ve never succumbed to this request, but at 2 a.m., who can say for sure? As a parent of two energetic children, I’m often exhausted. To my knowledge, they’ve never eaten in the middle of the night. Yet.
2:05 A.M.
“But I really can’t sleep without something to eat!”
At this point, I’m wide awake, so I may as well join them for a midnight snack.
Some days they ask even more frequently, while others are a bit quieter. Nevertheless, “snack” remains one of their favorite words, right alongside “playground” and “playdate.” For more insights into parenting and perhaps even helpful tools for starting a family, check out our other articles, including one on the CryoBaby at Home Insemination Kit and boosting fertility supplements. For valuable information on insemination, you can refer to this excellent resource.
In summary, my children have an uncanny ability to request snacks at almost any hour. From early mornings to late-night demands, their snack requests are a constant reminder of their never-ending appetite for food (and perhaps a little delaying of bedtime).
Keyphrase: snack requests from kids
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