As a working mum, I always leave work later than anticipated and then sit in peak hour traffic looking at my watch wondering if I’m going make it to after school care on time. I have two pick ups so this makes it even more maddening.
When I picked up Brie Boy the other night at 5.59pm (just made it!) he was chomping on an apple and Baby Bell wanted one to. When we arrived home Baby Bell went straight to the fruit bowl and bit into an apple. After two days at child care she is always tired and this makes dinner harder, but as she has a hot meal at child care so I try not to get too work up over what she eats for dinner these two nights.
I was making an avocado dipping sauce for chicken and fritters however the avocado had not ripen in time so I pulled a tomato salsa from the freezer as my alternative and only served a little on the side as I didn’t think either kid would be interested in eating it. I hardly paid any attention to them during dinner as I wasn’t expecting them to be hungry after eating the apples, I was starving having only eaten a banana and yoghurt all day, the latest issue of a cooking magazine had arrived and I was feeling very tired and not up to the battle.
Well image my surprise when I looked up and they had nearly finished their dinner and they were licking the salsa with their fingers. They ended up eating all the salsa and leaving none for the Big Cheese.
It reminded me of another dinner a while ago where I also got distracted by reading at the dinner table and the kids ate their dinner without coaxing or game playing.
Whilst I know reading at the table is not recommended it did make me realise that if the kids have your attention they will play up to it and they work out pretty quick that the dinner table is one place where they have your full attention.
So every now and again (especially if it’s been a tiring day) take no notice of the kids, have an adult conversation with your partner (or read if you are on your own) and don’t stress about what or how much they are eating (they won’t starve) and they may just surprise you.
Mothers Day is this Sunday and I’m not a fan of the commercialisation of Mothers Day and having to buying presents. However, as I have been a Mum for six years it is nice to be appreciated a least one day a year by the kids.
I have always like the idea that kids make home made vouchers that promise a special service that you can redeem at any time, ie putting my toys away, to be on my best behaviour, one big hug and kiss.
As Brie Boy is now 6 I thought it would be a good time to start this as a family tradition for Mothers Day or Fathers Day and mentioned it to The Big Cheese. He had a lightbulb moment and suggested that some of the vouchers could be redeemed at the dinner. My mind went racing with the potential of getting kids to eat their greens, try new foods, have a peaceful dinner, the list is endless.
Here are some suggestions you could use. Obviously, it will depend on each child and their age.
I will not ‘yuck’ Mummy’s cooking
I promise to try something new
I will help Mummy cook dinner
I will not whinge at dinner
I will eat more than 3 bites of dinner (valid for one dinner)
I will come to the dinner table when asked the first time
I will help with the washing up
I will not pick a fight with my brother/sister at dinner
I will try a mushroom (or other hated vegetable)
I will eat up all my greens (valid for one dinner)
I will set the table for dinner
I promise to be good at the dinner table
I will eat something that is red, orange and green for dinner tonight
I will be a big boy/girl at dinner and will feed myself
I will be quiet and not run around at the restaurant
This website makes it easy to make and print out the vouchers.
I would suggest that when you redeem a voucher you make your child aware that is going to happen prior to dinner and not just spring it on them.
Do you like this idea and do you think it will be successful with your kids?
Brie Boy started school this year and already he is resisting learning to read. As he loves running when he has read a reader or learnt a sight word he has victory lap around the living room and we have been making progress.
I have now been using the victory lap when I want the kids to try something new or to finish their vegetables. I used it the other night very successfully with a friend’s daughter.
I was at my friends place with the kids for a play. It was wonderful, all 4 children (Baby Bell, Brie Boy, Beanstalk & Lulu) were playing well and my friend and I were able to have a great catch-up, so much so the next thing we knew the kids were hungry and asking for food - it was 5.50pm.
My friend invited us to stay for dinner and we quickly threw together a dinner of dumplings, broccoli, baby corn and cherry tomatoes. When we served dinner her daughter, Lulu ‘yucked’ the broccoli and corn.
I knew that Baby Bell liked broccoli and using the theory of ‘peers help peers to eat’ I asked Baby Bell to show her friend how to eat broccoli. Lulu was impressed that her younger friend ate the broccoli. I asked her to smell it, lick it and tell me what it looked like and then to have a tiny bite and tell me how it felt in her mouth which she did. I knew I should reward Lulu for trying so seeking my friend’s permission I suggested she could take a victory lap around the kitchen bench.
Lulu ran around the kitchen bench which she thought was great fun. Baby Bell asked for a victory lap and knowing she isn’t too keen on baby corn I suggested she eat a piece which she did and she got her victory lap. Of course, the boys wanted to join in and although they had eaten their vegetables they asked for more broccoli so they could have their victory lap. Lulu also wanted another victory lap and finished the broccoli on her plate. It made dinner a little chaotic and noisy but it did encourage a reluctant broccoli eater to try and all four kids finished off a large head of broccoli.
I saw Lulu a couple of days later and she was very proud to tell me that she had eaten broccoli again.
What creative ways do you get your kids to try vegetables or new foods?
As a working mum, I always leave work later than anticipated and then sit in peak hour traffic looking at my watch wondering if I’m going make it to after school care on time. I have two pick ups so this makes it even more maddening.
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Mothers Day is this Sunday and I’m not a fan of the commercialisation of Mothers Day and having to buying presents. However, as I have been a Mum for six years it is nice to be appreciated a least one day a year by the kids.
Brie Boy started school this year and already he is resisting learning to read. As he loves running when he has read a reader or learnt a sight word he has victory lap around the living room and we have been making progress.