Ben is my impossible eater. He happily eats macaroni, fruit and grilled cheese. That’s about it. Maybe, ravioli if the wind is blowing in the right direction. Occasionally, a carrot or pea enters his system, but it’s a very rare occurrence. Getting him to eat anything he doesn’t want to is pure torture. Because of this, I’ve resorted to some pathetic ways of nourishing him. Some days, I can get him to eat chicken or lasagna by pretending he’s a baby and spoon feeding him. Or I tell stories and make him take a bite in between words. We’ll listen to music and eat when certain words play. I’ll try anything.
Last night I was at my wits end— none of my usual tricks were working and the kid hadn’t eaten all afternoon. I’d made tortellini, and there was spinach in it. The horror. Evan happily shoveled them in his mouth, as he does with every morsel of food ever presented to him. Lily ate her 13 and was on to her strawberries and banana. Ben was in minute 17 of his hissy fit and I had a pounding headache. I picked up his plate and was about to chuck it in the sink and shoot myself send him to bed. For some reason, my desperation led to me to ask “want to be a doggie and I’ll feed you on the floor?” His eyes lit up and he nodded yes, sliding onto the ceramic tile. I proceeded to feed him his entire plate of food. Spinach and all. It was a miracle.
I knew that it wasn’t the wisest parenting move, but he was eating spinach for crying out loud. I stifled the voice in the back of my head warning of inevitable repercussions and patted him on the head. Go me!
Sure enough, he bolted down from bed this morning barking and asking for waffles on the floor. Silly boy, that’s a deal I’m only willing to make for vegetables.
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{ 68 comments… read them below or add one }
Don’t worry about your parenting skills, he probably won’t be doing that by the time he gets to college.
Honestly – that is one of the most brilliant moves I’ve ever heard. You astound me!!
OK, I am laughing at the thought. Absolute brilliance. I wish you got that on video!!!!!!!
Minor long term damage. I think you’re OK.
My picky eater literally gags and has a physical reaction to foods he’s not familiar with. It’s really a pleasant addition to the dinner atmosphere.
Most boys eat similarly to dogs despite their mom’s trying to make them use their utensils and chew with their mouth closed. I think after 17 minutes of hissy fit I would have given up and not have thought of anything useful let alone found a way to get the food eaten
brilliant move jill. i am willing to try that out with my picky eater. ;) lol.
brilliant move jill. i am willing to try that out with my picky eater. ;) lol.
Ooooooooo I may just have to try that one! Good for you!
That is one funny image! I’m sending this to my friends who have finicky kids…hehe.
My theory is whatever works!!! Only issue would be if he starts eating doggie food,…. lol… my kids have done that a time or two… but what creative thinking on your part!
HEY….we have one of those! Though she eats ANYTHING. but when she ‘is’ an animal….she’ll do anything.
Nice work!
I was going to suggest smoothies…with ‘added stuff’ That works here.
WOW! I love it! Whatever works sometimes! I’ll file that trick away for next time I need it too.
I too wish you would have caught it on video! lol
hahahahaha!!!!
i love it…..i really did laugh out loud!!!!!
Yes, I am laughing, but it sounds like a brilliant parenting move! You could have easily just given in and thrown it out, but you got him to eat it. Go you!
Wasn’t the wisest parenting move? I disagree. I am totally trying this to attempt to get L to eat veggies.
Everyday I love you more and more…!!
(and not JUST because when Oprah has that show about horrible things your mom did and how it influence your life of crime, I know I won’t be sitting there alone)
Kidding -(about you anyway -I’ll still be there)
Love it -brillant!
I threaten to put the bowl on the floor not so they will eat – but because that’s where most of it lands in the first place!
LOL
Totally reminds me of the ‘Mommy’s little Piggy’ scene in A Christmas Story! Hey.. you gotsta do what you gotsta do…
BE careul, one of my kids went 3 days (swear to God) being a dog, responded to yes or no questions only, by barking and nodding his head! Even at the daycare!
I am glad to hear another mother has resorted to this.
Bram hasn’t had a veggie since he turned one. Unless it is served on the floor in a “doggy bowl” I will even put a fake leash on him.
Youngest is my picky eater. Last night I gave in to her whining and let her have a bowl of cereal… while the rest of us dined on pork chops.
I say it all the time, “I’m not a short-order cook, you’ll eat whatever I make for dinner”… yeah, then I give in every time.
reminds me of that scene from “A christmas story” where the mom gets her son to eat by saying “Show me how the piggies eat!”
whatever works right?
Ha! That is sooo funny!
Wanna give me tips on how to get through a playgroup without having him have a meltdown?
I’m trying the mini bagel tip today!
Omigosh that is so FUNNY. I can just picture you two.
Oh. You have given me the hysterical vision of the day.
Thankyousomuch,
xoxo
Jess—please no encouraging this kind of stuff! Maybe next time you visit, the entire family will be eating off the floor. To anyone else, she did not learn this from me (her mother)!
Totally brilliant, Jill. Genius!
Genius!! Next time veggies make an appearance at this house, we shall be a family of puppies!! :-) Thanks, Scary Mommy!
Hell yes! Seriously, that was about the only way we could get little man to eat anything for the longest time! I should consider going back to that. The whole not eating things is almost as frustrating as the whole not napping thing! :)
pure genius!! no doubt about it. better than his calling everything yucky. whatever works. and as for scars in later life… that will happen with anything you do [or don't do]. its all perspective.
keep up the creative touch. it seems to be very effective. one word of warning . years ago i was planting a garden when my older son [age 3 or 4 at the time] asked a question. i gave the ”sure” answer without paying attention. he asked if he could make outside like the dog. and no i did not get to him in time.
this is one of best ”Ben” stories. hmm. Does BoBo like veggies?
You toally need to get a video of it! It reminds me of the ole “show Mommy how the piggies eat” trick ;)
Cracked me up!!!
But what if you actually have a dog at home…. let the two of them eat off the floor togehter?? :)
Hilarious. Taking notes.
Oh, man, total can of worms…
Man, and to think I let my daughter play that game with Cheerios. I totally missed the boat.
You are a genius. And don’t let your future daughter in law tell you otherwise!
i wish i had thought of that years ago when my 13 year old son was little. might have gotten him to eat some veggies other than corn.
You Rock! That is so funny. And, you are not a bad mommy for doing that. We gotta do what we gotta do to get our kids to eat. It could be worse… you could be giving him a tattoo or dying his hair blue.
He ate spinach, I think that trumps everything else that went on
You. Are. A. Genius.
That trick would make even MY crap cooking appealing.
Plus, it would leave our table free for me to work on my scale model of downtown Topeka.
Yessss.
:^) Anna
I was nodding my head and laughing along with all the tricks you mentioned… until the doggie one. Barking or not, that is brilliant. Or maybe just funny. Either way, rest assured that I am not the only person that will try this out tomorrow.
What a good idea!! Woof!!
Some people puree veggies and hide it in food, you like eat veggies like a dog. What ever works.
Excellent job – you went the extra mile…Hell, I'd say PB&J's, Yogurt and Fruit and are good enough & give him a multivitamin.
this is coming from a son with a feeding disorder – he won’t – repeat – WILL NOT – starve himself – don’t fret! Let him eat a pound of bacon for every meal if that is what he wants – my son did – for at least a year straight! no kidding!
Oh my god – like Randy in A Christmas Story “who is mommy’s little piggy?”
I think you are a genius.
And my boys eat nothing but cheese on bread. And sometimes only cheese. They’re mice.
Funny. The things we will do to help our kids. Dont want to trun him into a dog though.
By the way, did you see my last post? If not check it out, it was very difficult to write but will for sure be worth the read. If you feel led to do so, post about it so that we can get the word out so that this ministry I am starting will speak to many.
Love and Prayers,
Tim
That’s the best! Whatever works. I hope it doesn’t come down to eating on the floor in restaurants!
I would so do the same thing…actually I may have to do that for dinner tonight! My 2 1/2 yr old has been very difficult at dinner time.
Whatever I can do to get this kid to eat!!
Hey, if this works, run with it!
I went to alittle boys birthday party once, where they served cake in cute little dog bowls (it was a dog theme), this reminded me of it.
You are a freaking genius! I have never heard of doing this before. Who would think of that? Only a VERY clever person…
I swear my son didn’t eat the entire year he was 3. I don’t know how he survived. He started really eating when he was 10 — about 2 years ago. Seeing him eat a burrito can literally bring tears of joy to my eyes!
It is truly amazing when us moms come up with an ingenious plan to pull the wool over our kids’ eyes. My son was not a good eater. I even went so far as to bribe him with the promise of a toy if he would eat a healthy meal. I used any and all methods I could think of to get my son to eat good food. It worked a little too well. Before I knew what happened, he was 14 and pushing 6ft. When you can’t afford a dollar menu, something is seriously wrong. It’s too bad there is not a lucrative future for the sport of eating. He is now 19, 6 ft. 2 in. tall, and going to school to be a chef. Go figure!
That.is.awesome.
Necessity is the mother of invention!
That is so funny! At least he’s eating!
oh mah Lord that is the funniest thing. Let’s just hope he doesn’t try that the next time you go out to eat!!!!
Brilliant! I am totally going to try this – starting tonight!
Ha ha ha. That's funny. Your dog, my monkey -> http://millsblessings.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-monkey.html
Hell, if it works, more power to you!
personally, I think you are a genius and should write a book and trust me, I’m totally serious. The kid ate his spinach, end of story.
A friend forwarded on your blog since they know I’m in a similar situation. Hope you don’t mind if I steal the doggie idea!
I can imagine the look on my face if I tried this with my picky tween. LOL! “Mom, are you off your meds?’
So glad you found away before he was too old.
LizzB’s last blog post..What I Learned This Year – By Lizz, age 34
Hey, the kid ate his spinach, and the request this morning tells you that you can use it at least a couple more times before the novelty wears off
.-= thepsychobabble´s last blog ..Truck gets banged up =-.
That is fantastic! May have to try that on my son who somehow subsists on applesauce. On the other hand, we’ve often joked that my daughter is like a family dog because she’ll scurry under the table and look for fallen scraps. Gross, but she’s quick!
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I love that you patted him on the head!
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Hilarious! I sometimes pretend to sneeze food out of my nose so that my 2 year old son will eat it.
Oh my God, that is HILARIOUS!! Too bad it wouldn’t work in my house, because the actual canines would shove the kid out of the way to get to the food. But you still get, like, a million points for coming up with the idea! So awesome.
that is the best story ever!!!1 and i will use it
hah. MY daughters used to pretend they were little kitties. they crawled around on all fours and mewed. and yes, when they were “kitties” they ate out of bowls off the floor. maybe i was a ‘bad mother” but i figured, what the hell? who was it hurting? i was a decidedly poor single parent, juggling several jobs AND going to school, and i didn’t have the energy to fight it. and you know what? they turned out just fine.
LOVE your blog and feel sorry for the ones that don’t “get” it!
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