Lately, CJ hasn't wanted to eat anything new. But, as parents, we know that he needs to be able to eat a variety of foods... not just fruit, bread, and crackers. We've even tried pizza and mac'n cheese thinking, "all kids love this stuff..." But alas we were mistaken. They both caused tears at the initial sight of them on his tray. Crazy right?
Our first strategy to get him to eat new things was to make him sit in his chair until he at least tried a bite of whatever we were having for dinner. This resulted in 30-45 minute tear laden fits. But it also always resulted in two other things... CJ would eventually try it and mom and dad's nerves were worn to shreds. Sometimes he would like it. Other times he would hate it. But he always ate it.
The more we thought about it though, the more we are convinced that all good things come in time. All we can do is offer him healthy, nutritious foods. He has to choose to eat them, at least for now. So we have a new strategy. Every night, he gets what we are eating. If he eats it, great. If he doesn't, he's not going to starve. No more tears. No more bribery. No more fits. Sometimes he will try the new things and like it. Other times, like tonight, the mac'n cheese is still a no-go. :)
This night we were trying to get him to eat BBQ. He wouldn't touch it on his tray. Then I put it on bread. Magic... he ate three small sandwiches. And because we were using ketchup, he needed ketchup. And even though he had never even seen a Dorito before, when Scott started eating them, he wanted them. Why couldn't he have the same reaction to broccoli? So here is the end result of Doritos and ketchup...
One thing CJ has gotten great at is helping to set the table. When this boy decided he is hungry, he is ready to E.A.T! He will sign it, say it, and he even has a little eat-dance. Usually this starts about the time I start getting things ready for dinner. Unfortunately my ability to get dinner on the table is never as fast as his realization he wants to eat. So to distract him, I get him to help set the table. Win-win for both of us. He is occupied so I don't want to stab my eye out because I have heard "eat" 5,000 times in 2 minutes and he has forgotten he thinks he is starving. And it also makes one less thing for me to do so dinner gets done faster.
This is also the point where I think I have made huge strides as a mom and as a person in general. I am SUPER type-A. Every thing has its place, and it needs to be put there. Scott would even try to tell you I am OCD. So what if all my can labels face the same way, my spices are alphabetized, and one of the best gifts Scott ever got me was a label maker? Don't judge me! But when CJ does something like set the table, I CAN'T go behind him and re-do it. It is fine if it is all whopper-jawed. He did a great job, and he is so proud of himself. If I constantly go behind him fixing what he has done to the best of his ability, he will either stop helping because he can never get things right or he will get lazy and not try his hardest. So we are growing and learning together. :)
