I have a picky eater who was wanting to eat only junk food. It was getting pretty bad. I then came to the conclusion that she does not have to eat what we eat. She can eat other stuff as long as it is healthy or (pretty close LOL) THis little picky eater does not like eating meat much at all. She does like the roasted chicken type sliced sandwich meat and turkey etc. I will often give her a couple slices of this when we are eating other meats that she does not like. She also likes beef jerky. I often give a lunch or dinner like these: Beef jerkey, grape tomatoes, apple sauce cup, and crackers. Chicken slices, broccoli, noodles orange juice or ovaltine. Peanut butter (no jelly my kids both hate it??)sandwich, grapes, tomatoes, milk. I just don't fight it and she is into the fact that she is getting to select or request items at the store. She has actually started trying other things on her own not that it is not a power play. Notice that this does not require me to cook a separate meal. (or is that bad? )
Vantage - I don't think thats bad at all...as long as it's not creating work for you! There are times I extend grace to my kids and they don't have to eat what we're eating, Well...a portion of what we're eating... BUT they always have to have a "no thank you bite" Even if it's brussel sprouts...you just never know when they'll start to like something. Hey, I HATE Brussels sprouts, but on the nights I make them (DH LOVES THEM), I have a "no thank you" bite too - I show them that even as adults our tastebuds can change and we can learn to like new foods. Also, often, I'll make them make their own as long as it's comprised of somethign available on the table. For example, we had tuna fish sandwiches for dinner the other night. My one son ate his 'NTY' bite and then made a cheese sandwhich for himself (my hubby likes cheese on his tuna fish)...so it was on the table...nothing extra was needed.
Vantage, those are the kinds of meals my boys (often my middle one) opt for. Doesn't require me to cook anything - and like Krista said, sometimes it's comprised of what's on the table. Occasionally I'll provide a substitute for one part of our meal. Such as, the other day we had steaks with potatoes and a salad. I knew that the little boys don't eat much salad. (I make the 9yo take what Krista is referring to as a "no thank you bite," only it's more like 3 or 4 bites. LOL) So, I put out sliced cucumbers and baby carrots on the table. I like those things with my salad, as does dh, and the boys ate quite a bit of those two things without the lettuce and cheese. *shrug* Dern, left out the iceberg lettuce? :lol: (Well okay, our salads are iceberg-romaine-cabbage blends. But still.) And, I'm totally curious as to what the board is. I jump around from time to time, especially if I'm looking for a certain idea for a certain subject, and if there's somewhere specific I should avoid getting advice (Um, sounds like it!) then I'd love to know. (And of course, HSS is home!! You are the ones I trust!!) You can PM me if ya want, or hey, it's not really any of my business anyway, so dont' worry about it if ya don't want. LOL
I do not cook anyone a seperate meal. This is just my belief, but, if children are given seperate meals they become accustomed to them and then they become more picky. I just think it teaches them the exact opposite of what I try to teach my children. Kids a lot of times confuse not liking something for just have a "preference". Meaning, they think they don't like something, when in actuality they just prefer to have something else and throw a stink over it. Now, it doesn't mean I think anyone who makes a seperate meal is a bad parent or doing something wrong. That is, unless you are throwing junk food in their face at all costs to avoid an argument...well then, yeah I don't think that is ok and I think that is common sense that it's not ok. Allowing to fill up on junk to avoid a struggle is just lazy, IMO. But, if someone wants to pick their battles and make something else and it's a healthy alternative...then more power to you. I just wont do that. I'm too stubborn and I'm not a short order cook. LOL HOWEVER, every once in awhile I will do what DaLynn does and provide an extra side or a different side. Example, Tanner absolutely hates potatoes. So, I'll give him some baby carrots instead. Small items, nothing emmaculate. And not all the time, just every so often.
and :roll: I guess I never really understood that "unschooling" to it's extreme seems more like laziness and negligent parenting to me! WOW...no idea!! I read few a few posts that grew hair on my chest just by reading them! I'm mean, I'm totally for freedom and low stress and stuff...but... WOW...
I am the same as you jenpooh. I will allow something different sometimes. Samantha hates peas and she hates beans. I don't make her eat them. Grace pretty much eats anything. Actually if given the option Grace would choose carrots and ranch dressing over ice cream. I know strange kid huh?
WHOA!!!! Forget unschooling - that is un-parenting!!! Wow Amy. Just wow. It is shocking some of the things I read there. Look out world because in just a few short years the kids of those "parents" are giong to be adults. Self indulgent, spoiled adults. I'm actually very shocked by what I read there. i can't believe there are "parents" like that.
Okay sorry I am triple posting here but man oh man! I just found the thread where Amy got jumped on. These women are complete wackos - and yes that is my oinion! They don't use words like "have to" ever at all. Everything is a choice. Personal hygeine is even a choice. One women does not make her kids bathe or wash their hair. She says swimming is a good way to get clean. Or filling a balloon with water and throwing it at her son is a good way for him to get his hair wet. Her kids "allow" her to surface brush their hair mayeb once a week. It is their bodies and their hair.:roll: I'm sorry but that is just nasty as hell. Nasty nasty nasty!
I think I have the attention span of a rock, I wasn't able to find the thread. LOL What is the link? Hygiene not important on there? I have a pet peeve about oily hair, dirty teeth and dirty finger nails.
Mamabear let me go find it. There are many others there just as shocking. Severl threads I have read they just attack each other. It's crazy!
http://www.unschooling.info/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1707 There ya go! Oh and apparently if you classify what is healthy and what is junk as Amy very nicely suggested you will give your kid a complex and they will have an unhealthy emotional relationship with food. Gag!
Dang! Amy, I think you need to do some more shopping around if you need input on unschooling!! Even though we don't unschool, we belong to an association that is run by an unschooling mom. I'll see if I can find some info on her site and post back here. I know there has to be some unschoolers out there that aren't that radical!! Maybe even try looking up the term "fun-schooling" and see what you can find.
I think for the first time in my life I don't have something to say other than I am speechless at the posts on the other forum! Did you read how often the one mom will kinda brush her kids' hair? Eeek! Are they for real?
Okay so I haven't posted anything over there yet. I am trying to digest all of this crazieness. Yes I read that about the hair soooooooo I clicked on the link to her blog. Her kids have really long curly hair which is fine if it is clean but oh man those poor kids look like they haven't washed or brushed in a while. Oh and I found another thread over there that talks about crushing teeth. The mother of a 14 month old says her husband tries to brush the child's teeth twice a day but she doesn't like it. Someone actually tells her it may be emotionally too much for the child and that they should just not crush her teeth because sometimes people who brush get cavaties anyway.
