Use the Force

I'd like to start with a thank you to Moe for picking up the slack. I really dropped the ball, or was forced to drop the ball depending on how you look at it. But thanks to her the whole world has been able to keep up with our two adorable children and occasionally their parents.



This is to all my parent friends....don't just tell your kids to eat their veggies...FORCE THEM! The last several weeks has been a battle of wills between me and the girls. Gianna has become the little 2 year old we dreaded; obstinate, energetic, distracted, and super smart. She is constantly testing hers and our limits especially at dinner time. If it looks like it has veggies in it she pics out the good parts and barely touches her food. Well that stopped about a week ago, thank you very much. We sat down at dinner, Moe made a yummy casserole or something along those lines and she refused to eat it, at least on her own, SO I picked up her bowl and spoon and made mild bargains for each bite: a bite for some juice, or a bite for some bread and butter. That soon devolved into an indifferent attitude, which escalated to threats on my part. No games, no puzzles, no movies etc, all the while i am spooning every bite and feeding her like a toddler. This has gone on for a week or so as we have stopped catering her meals and started making her eat ours. It still tries my patience, her resolve is stiff and strong (maybe a drink would help me....) but she finishes her dinner most nights now, veggies included, with far less bartering than when we started......

But her sister picked up where she left off. Last night Moe had some tutoring so I was on my own, with a rambunctious G who wanted to dance and march around the house and a hungry baby. I can't remember if Moe has talked about it or not but Elia hates food...or rather, she can't quit her mom. We have tried and tried and tried and she shows no interest unless it's a cracker or something she can hold. You can try to put a spoonful of something good up to her mouth and she is just refuses with tight lips. Moe has had limited success as well with her eating maybe once a day. Well last night E was HUNGRY and there was no mama for her to go to, and she wouldn't eat her veggies....that's where i stepped up my game. You can't force a spoonful of veggies past tight lips but you can do this....and it paid dividends...little E was happy for hours after that.