You had me in tears...the annual reaction is such a real thing.
And your advice is so excellent.
With my two I always had food out in pots/bowls so everyone could serve themselves. There was always at least one thing that each child would eat: rice often, as you suggest, or pasta, or whatever. I just never wanted food to be a battle of any kind for anyone at the table.
Thank you for your heartfelt reflection and your sound advice. We must find the ways that we can love one another above all else.
If it helps (and perhaps it won’t), let me share my own practice for the anniversary of my father’s death. He died on February 9, 1985, when I was 9 years old. After years of feeling so weird and unmoored on that date, I decided a few years ago to treat February 9 as a self-care day, a day to nurture myself and be kind to myself. I cancel all meetings and appointments and follow my own whims. I go for a walk, or I take a nap, or I watch Bridgerton, or I go to a museum. Whatever I like. We order take-out for dinner. The shift came as I realized that my reaction on the date was less about my dad and more about my own experience of trauma. This has been a healing practice for me. Receive it as you will! And thank you again for sharing your writing with us all. ❤️
During 30+ yrs in community nutrition/WIC, toddler eating (or not) was always a top concern with parents. I often deferred to the expertise of Ellyn Satter. Her books were common sense and savvy, as well as accurate regarding child nutrition.
Toddlers, in my own experience (I had four, and seven grandkids), eat whatever you give them as trustworthy, until they start moving around on their own. At that point, they won't eat anything unfamiliar as it might be poisonous (particularly bitter). Then they grow up a little, curiosity cracks in, start to find cooking interesting, and it all works out in the end.
I also am in tears. Thank you so much for this answer. You reframe things so beautifully—there is nothing so good and so valuable as us being together at the table! ❤️
You had me in tears...the annual reaction is such a real thing.
And your advice is so excellent.
With my two I always had food out in pots/bowls so everyone could serve themselves. There was always at least one thing that each child would eat: rice often, as you suggest, or pasta, or whatever. I just never wanted food to be a battle of any kind for anyone at the table.
Thank you for your heartfelt reflection and your sound advice. We must find the ways that we can love one another above all else.
If it helps (and perhaps it won’t), let me share my own practice for the anniversary of my father’s death. He died on February 9, 1985, when I was 9 years old. After years of feeling so weird and unmoored on that date, I decided a few years ago to treat February 9 as a self-care day, a day to nurture myself and be kind to myself. I cancel all meetings and appointments and follow my own whims. I go for a walk, or I take a nap, or I watch Bridgerton, or I go to a museum. Whatever I like. We order take-out for dinner. The shift came as I realized that my reaction on the date was less about my dad and more about my own experience of trauma. This has been a healing practice for me. Receive it as you will! And thank you again for sharing your writing with us all. ❤️
During 30+ yrs in community nutrition/WIC, toddler eating (or not) was always a top concern with parents. I often deferred to the expertise of Ellyn Satter. Her books were common sense and savvy, as well as accurate regarding child nutrition.
That's where I got my "one thing he likes at every meal" idea.
Toddlers, in my own experience (I had four, and seven grandkids), eat whatever you give them as trustworthy, until they start moving around on their own. At that point, they won't eat anything unfamiliar as it might be poisonous (particularly bitter). Then they grow up a little, curiosity cracks in, start to find cooking interesting, and it all works out in the end.
I also am in tears. Thank you so much for this answer. You reframe things so beautifully—there is nothing so good and so valuable as us being together at the table! ❤️
Just beautiful