I recognize the privilege of providing meals for my kids each evening. Yet, as I serve dinner, I occasionally wish for an escape—perhaps a secret getaway where I won’t have to endure the relentless challenge of persuading my little ones to eat. Here are eight thoughts that frequently cross my mind during these mealtimes:
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Just Swallow Already!
Seriously, how long can a morsel of food linger in someone’s mouth? Please, stop chewing that chicken and just swallow it before I lose my mind. If I have to watch you chew for one more second, I might just collapse in despair. -
How Can Your Favorite Dish Change Overnight?
Didn’t you just declare this pasta your absolute favorite last week? Now you refuse to eat it? That makes no sense. When I find something I love, I could eat it endlessly without complaint. -
Really? You Think That Smells Bad?
What possibly could make someone scrunch their face at the smell of fried chicken? It’s just deliciousness! Is a pizza slice—bread, sauce, and cheese—really that offensive? My senses are overwhelmed with delight when I smell it. -
How Is Three Bites Enough?
Just 15 minutes ago, you were ravenous, and I hurriedly prepared dinner for you. Now, after three bites, you’re declaring yourself full? I need to bottle that up; when I’m starving, I could devour a feast. -
What’s This Aversion to Food Touching?
So, one tiny bit of mashed potato grazed your chicken, and now it’s inedible? And ketchup made it into a “no-ketchup zone”? Seriously? Where are my car keys? -
I’m Actually Doing This.
I’m meticulously sorting through your meal, picking out every minuscule piece of green because you won’t eat it otherwise. You want a different meal because there’s a sprinkle of scallion? Yet here I am, removing everything green with the precision of a surgeon. This is dire—you’re eating this! -
Please Don’t Tell Me to Let Them Be Done.
I hear you, Aunt Sarah. You think my child can self-regulate their hunger? But when he skips breakfast and turns into a little monster in the store, you won’t be around. And when he decides he’s hungry at midnight, I won’t be awake to help. So let’s just drop that conversation. -
How Can You Not Want Dessert?
I’m not upset you don’t want that slice of chocolate cake; it’s healthier for you. But how is it possible to refuse it? You have a guilt-free option right in front of you, yet you say “no”? Good for you. You must have inherited your willpower from someone else.
This parenting gig isn’t easy. So through all the dinnertime chaos, I’ll keep providing nutritious meals and encouraging my kids to eat until they’re independent. Someday, when they’re home from college lamenting their weight gain, I’ll remind them of the times I had to plead for them to eat. Then we can bond over our shared indulgences—perhaps with a pint of ice cream.
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Summary:
Navigating mealtime with children often leads to a myriad of thoughts and challenges, from their changing preferences to their peculiar aversions to food touching. Despite the chaos, the effort to provide nutritious meals persists, with the hope that one day they’ll appreciate it—if not, there’s always dessert to share.
Keyphrase: mealtime reflections with children
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