The Boy (standing up on his chair): Momma was yesterday my birthday?
Me: No, it was not. When do you think your birthday is?
The Boy: September
Me: Very good – sit down and eat your dinner please
The Boy: (Still standing and now singing in a demonic voice) “TODAY IS FRIDAY, TODAY IS FRIDAY, ALL DAY LONG, ALL DAY LONG – TOMORROW WILL BE MONDAY HIP HOORAY!
Me: That’s a nice song honey, sit down and eat
The Boy: SEVEN!
Me: (Ignoring the random outburst)
The Boy: I DON’T LIKE BIG FROGS DAY! “TODAY IS SUNDAY, TODAY IS SUNDAY – ELEVEN!!!!!”
Dude: Eat your dinner!
The Boy: I need to poop
Lately this has been the norm at our house during dinner.
Suddenly The Boy has decided that he does not want to eat and is either standing up in his chair and doing a song and dance or trying to get Dude and me to participate in a highly illogical conversation or both.
My parents always said they could take my brother and I anywhere as kids because we sat quietly and ate; and it is so important to Dude and I that he has both good eating habits and table manners inside the home and out; and now is the time to reinforce these good behaviors.
So, instead of yelling at him to “Sit his butt down and eat” we are trying the following and I hope that it works….
First and foremost, we are trying very hard to stay cool as cucumbers, not let him see even the slightest inkling of a smile out of either one of us when the dance recital starts. We know that despite if we are in a great mood, we can’t encourage him; and I won’t lie, it’s tough because the kid is freaking funny.
We are trying to stay consistent, reminding him that dinner time is for sitting down as a family and enjoying a meal together. If he is finished eating he should sit in his chair until everyone is done; or ask nicely to be excused. However, if he is excused and he did not eat, we remind him there will be no snack before bed; and we have to stick with it regardless of any positive behavior the remainder of the evening.
We are still struggling as to how long to keep his dinner on the table in case he just wasn’t hungry; so any “experienced” mommies out there, if you have any advice for us “newbies” that would be great!
I think that “spooning out” praise for a job well done, telling him he is the “hot dog” will be key because we are looking forward to saying “pasta la vista” to his bad habits and relishing the day when we can say we suc”seed”ed.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
2 comments
Diane Long says:
February 15, 2012 at 5:42 pm (UTC 0 )
You are handling this very well, & I know just how hard keeping the straight face is! As for how long you keep out his plate: what I did/do with my 3 (& my 2 stepdaughters) the plate stays on the table while everyone finishes eating. It becomes the last thing to be cleaned up. If, at that point, they still have not eaten-into the fridge it goes. That way, when the inevitable “I’m hungry” words are spoken- all you have to do is pop it in the microwave! Of course-they MUST eat the meal…even if everyone else is eating dessert. This has worked well with me, so much so that at 20 yrs of age, my son still does this! Good Luck!
Moms Little Helper says:
February 15, 2012 at 7:39 pm (UTC 0 )
Diane – Thank you so much for the advice! We will try it!!!!!