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Monday
Jul212008
Giving In
July 21, 2008
Sometimes you just have to.
I'm a tough mom. In my family, once you're able to hold a spoon in your chubby tiny fist, you'd better be feeding yourself, or you'll go hungry.
Well, it's not that bad. But my kids generally did feed themselves. That is, until we met up against the formidable obstacle of the grandparents. Otherwise known as the ones who would like to halt the development of my children.
Or so I thought. Because I'm tough like that.
I can't count the number of times I've come back from the bathroom, during dinner at my parents' house, to find my dad guiltily jumping violently enough to spill four glasses of water, holding a spoon next to some child's mouth. Some child who should be feeding herself. Sometimes he would go so far as to post my mother as a lookout. "She's coming!" I'd hear, as I walked down the hallway as quietly as I could.
I was gracious about it, of course. "It's fine to feed the kids," I'd say, "as long as you don't mind making my life about a thousand times harder." Notice how well I share the raising of my children. All about the village I am. As long as everyone does things my way.
Anyways, now we are here, and we are here with Jaya, who, though she rarely gets involved with kid stuff, informs me that my kids are too small to eat by themselves.
And I am giving in. Perhaps I am just too pregnant and tired. But the end of every dinnertime sees Jaya coming back to the table to feed YaYa the food that she hasn't finished. I mean, the girl is practically a teenager. She's four, right? So she's only nine years away.
I think, though, that the reason I'm giving in is because I love it that YaYa doesn't even protest. Even when my parents would feed her, she wasn't silent like this, accepting bite after bite gallantly, gulping water in between when it's spicy. I know a good thing when I see it. About 25% of the time.
I'm a tough mom. In my family, once you're able to hold a spoon in your chubby tiny fist, you'd better be feeding yourself, or you'll go hungry.
Well, it's not that bad. But my kids generally did feed themselves. That is, until we met up against the formidable obstacle of the grandparents. Otherwise known as the ones who would like to halt the development of my children.
Or so I thought. Because I'm tough like that.
I can't count the number of times I've come back from the bathroom, during dinner at my parents' house, to find my dad guiltily jumping violently enough to spill four glasses of water, holding a spoon next to some child's mouth. Some child who should be feeding herself. Sometimes he would go so far as to post my mother as a lookout. "She's coming!" I'd hear, as I walked down the hallway as quietly as I could.
I was gracious about it, of course. "It's fine to feed the kids," I'd say, "as long as you don't mind making my life about a thousand times harder." Notice how well I share the raising of my children. All about the village I am. As long as everyone does things my way.
Anyways, now we are here, and we are here with Jaya, who, though she rarely gets involved with kid stuff, informs me that my kids are too small to eat by themselves.
And I am giving in. Perhaps I am just too pregnant and tired. But the end of every dinnertime sees Jaya coming back to the table to feed YaYa the food that she hasn't finished. I mean, the girl is practically a teenager. She's four, right? So she's only nine years away.
I think, though, that the reason I'm giving in is because I love it that YaYa doesn't even protest. Even when my parents would feed her, she wasn't silent like this, accepting bite after bite gallantly, gulping water in between when it's spicy. I know a good thing when I see it. About 25% of the time.
Reader Comments (6)
My daughter eats better when I feed her and she's....seven. Only at dinner, though...anyway, no judgment from me!
I find that my children that age get just plain tired, and while they still might eat more, the effort required just isn't worth it. I will feed them to help them finish up, and then all is well. No cave on your part, just wise mothering!
No judgement from me, either. My 2.4 year old daughter feeds herself for the most part, but the zucchini, okra, carrots, and kale have a better chance at entering her mouth when on a fork held by my hand. Somehow the mango, strawberries, dried blueberries and french fries (hey! how'd they get in here!?) don't have that problem...
Can we please, please see some photos of your house?
I really am tough, aren't I? You all are putting me to shame with your patient feeding...
No Rae, don't feel judged! My sister tries to get her kids to feed themselves as much as possible too, and they're 2 and a half and 1. Okay, so the one year old basically just stuffs dry-ish food in his mouth, but gets spoonfed the "spoony" stuff, but my niece can mostly feed herself. We help out when it's too hard or she's way too tired/whiny at the end of the day, or we're in a rush to get out. Otherwise, she basically does it.
I read the first two sentances and smiled.
Yes I know what you're talking about. I'm a tough mum too lol!
My youngest is 14 months and she's been sitting at her little table with her 2 year old and four year old sister eating by herself since she was 11 months. My 10 year old feeds herself too lol. But as she was an only child for five years she was spoon feed till she was four, which I can't believe I did now!
Great post :0)