A Losing Battle

Who doesn't have food issues? I try to feed my kids healthy, minimally-processed, mostly organic-ish stuff, but I'm not all OCD about it. I try not to fight with them about how much they eat. I recently read "you decide what your child eats. They decide how much." Makes sense, and it makes me feel better. My kids often decide that nothing is the right amount, but I am still trying to remind myself that I decide and I'm in control every day, no matter how out of control I feel.

Lately I've been trying to cut back on the kids' snacks. I figure if they are actually super hungry for a meal, they'll eat. I can deal with the nagging, right?

This afternoon, Po and Cam each had a snack, and then Po asks for another snack.

"No, Po. You just had a snack, and I'm going to make you dinner in an hour or so."

"But MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOmy. I'm stAAAAAAAAAAAAAArving."

"Great. Then you'll eat your dinner when I–"

"You're not listening to me," Po interrupted.

"I'll be happy to listen to you when you're not sassing me. Until then, I refuse to listen to you. Let me know when you're ready."

There was a millisecond pause, and then Po came back with an argument. "I'm just saying that if you don't let me have a snack, then I still won't eat my dinner."

"Well, that's your choice, Po."

"No, it's not. If you let me have a snack, I'll still eat my dinner."

"Well, that's interesting, but you're not having a snack right now."

I believe I got a growl back. So my kid is going to be REEeEEEEeEEEEEEEally STAAAAAAAAAAAAAArving tonight since he is not going to eat a snack or dinner.

Maybe we should all just go to bed.