Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Hi, This question has to do with mealtime. I am asking this group because you guys all seem to have the same style of parenting that I do and I value your feedback. I have a 2 year old son. I cannot get him to sit at the table and eat a meal. He will only eat at " his table " . Does anyone have any suggestions? Is anyone else having this issue? I thought about putting his food at the big table and telling him if he wants to eat he needs to sit at the table. I know this will be a big fight and am nervous he might not eat... What to do, what to do.... Denise veggie and mother of a 2 year old veggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 May I ask why you are concerned about this issue? I'm a big fan of the importance of picking your battles... Chandelle On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 11:34 AM, jayroe <jayroe wrote: > Hi, > > This question has to do with mealtime. > I am asking this group because you guys all seem to have the same > style of parenting that I do and I value your feedback. > I have a 2 year old son. > I cannot get him to sit at the table and eat a meal. > He will only eat at " his table " . > Does anyone have any suggestions? > Is anyone else having this issue? > I thought about putting his food at the big table and telling him if > he wants to eat he needs to sit at the table. > I know this will be a big fight and am nervous he might not eat... > What to do, what to do.... > > Denise > veggie and mother of a 2 year old veggie > > > -- " if voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal. " ~emma goldman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Hi Denise, There are different ways to go with this, but I think at that age, I was happy they had good food in them. He'll have lots of time to learn about table manners. I'd follow his cue, pull up a little chair at his table and keep him company while he eats good healthy food (if he will). It's a tough age, so just stick with things that work. He's fighting for independence. Remember that he's trying to learn and do things like a big boy, so be gentle with the battles you choose. My children, now 5 and 7, gave me a run for it at that time too. Try to keep smiling when things get crazy, or take a break, if you need to. Try to let him make choices, that either one you would want. Like, would you like carrots or broccoli? when putting on pjs, which one would he want, instead of do you want to wear pjs? that mentality helped me some, because then the children felt involved, even though you were comfortable with either one. Good luck! and good for you to ask questions! this group has been a wonderful help to me over the years! Janeen jayroe <jayroe Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:34:10 PM sitting at the table.... Hi, This question has to do with mealtime. I am asking this group because you guys all seem to have the same style of parenting that I do and I value your feedback. I have a 2 year old son. I cannot get him to sit at the table and eat a meal. He will only eat at " his table " . Does anyone have any suggestions? Is anyone else having this issue? I thought about putting his food at the big table and telling him if he wants to eat he needs to sit at the table. I know this will be a big fight and am nervous he might not eat... What to do, what to do.... Denise veggie and mother of a 2 year old veggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Hi Denise, Our son will turn 4 tomorrow (stifles sniffle :-( . . . reminisces silently about the last 4 years :-) ), and we are admittedly exceptionally flexible in our parenting, but we have had meals everywhere from the table like normal folk, to our son standing next to his chair with his food on the chair, to him eating his food off a dish on the floor since he wanted to pretend to be a dog, to having a " breakfast picnic " on the living room floor on a beach towel, to having a picnic on the front lawn, to eating while we were swinging on the back patio, to eating a meal in the club house of his playset in the backyard. :-) Oh, we've also packed up meals and gone to parks or the beach to eat - oh, and we often bring meals with us while we go for a walk, and eat part of it as we walk and part of it wherever we decide to sit and rest - sidewalk, bench, little wild areas nearby, etc. But the very most common thing is us all eating at the table, but between bites, our son shows us a new yoga pose he made up, or walks in circles while he makes up a story, or finds the cat to tell him " you're a good kitty cat! " Sometimes it drives me nuts, when I want to just have a calm, quick, quiet meal . . . but I have to remind myself that calm, quick and quiet aren't that much a part of our lives with a small child sometimes. :-) And we have several friends whose kids are really super picky eaters and don't eat hardly at all, so I'm always happy that he eats . . .. even if it is in an unconventional way. :-) So, I guess my advice for you is thank your lucky stars that your son is willing to eat and knows what he likes and wants to do - and I think this is within the norm of kids wanting to exert their opinions and wishes, just like we want to. :-) You could put his little table right next to your big table, and then everyone's in the same proximity, but he gets his little " just his size " table, and you get your wish to have everyone eat together. :-) Happy Meal Time, Lorraine On Behalf Of jayroe Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:34 AM sitting at the table.... Hi, This question has to do with mealtime. I am asking this group because you guys all seem to have the same style of parenting that I do and I value your feedback. I have a 2 year old son. I cannot get him to sit at the table and eat a meal. He will only eat at " his table " . Does anyone have any suggestions? Is anyone else having this issue? I thought about putting his food at the big table and telling him if he wants to eat he needs to sit at the table. I know this will be a big fight and am nervous he might not eat... What to do, what to do.... Denise veggie and mother of a 2 year old veggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Hi Denise, On the general topic of parenting -- I just learned about this e-list about parenting: www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove. It's really great, and my partner/husband gets it at work now, too, so that we're on the same daily page, so to speak. It's really good advice about staying present in parenting and parenting gently. And you know, sometimes the suggestions sound just ridiculous to me, but I'll sometimes try them anyway (in a sarcastic voice, even sometimes), and our son still responds and it works. Pretty great info! Good luck! Lorraine Lorraine [ldemi] Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:27 PM ' ' RE: sitting at the table.... Hi Denise, Our son will turn 4 tomorrow (stifles sniffle :-( . . . reminisces silently about the last 4 years :-) ), and we are admittedly exceptionally flexible in our parenting, but we have had meals everywhere from the table like normal folk, to our son standing next to his chair with his food on the chair, to him eating his food off a dish on the floor since he wanted to pretend to be a dog, to having a " breakfast picnic " on the living room floor on a beach towel, to having a picnic on the front lawn, to eating while we were swinging on the back patio, to eating a meal in the club house of his playset in the backyard. :-) Oh, we've also packed up meals and gone to parks or the beach to eat - oh, and we often bring meals with us while we go for a walk, and eat part of it as we walk and part of it wherever we decide to sit and rest - sidewalk, bench, little wild areas nearby, etc. But the very most common thing is us all eating at the table, but between bites, our son shows us a new yoga pose he made up, or walks in circles while he makes up a story, or finds the cat to tell him " you're a good kitty cat! " Sometimes it drives me nuts, when I want to just have a calm, quick, quiet meal . . . but I have to remind myself that calm, quick and quiet aren't that much a part of our lives with a small child sometimes. :-) And we have several friends whose kids are really super picky eaters and don't eat hardly at all, so I'm always happy that he eats . . .. even if it is in an unconventional way. :-) So, I guess my advice for you is thank your lucky stars that your son is willing to eat and knows what he likes and wants to do - and I think this is within the norm of kids wanting to exert their opinions and wishes, just like we want to. :-) You could put his little table right next to your big table, and then everyone's in the same proximity, but he gets his little " just his size " table, and you get your wish to have everyone eat together. :-) Happy Meal Time, Lorraine On Behalf Of jayroe Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:34 AM sitting at the table.... Hi, This question has to do with mealtime. I am asking this group because you guys all seem to have the same style of parenting that I do and I value your feedback. I have a 2 year old son. I cannot get him to sit at the table and eat a meal. He will only eat at " his table " . Does anyone have any suggestions? Is anyone else having this issue? I thought about putting his food at the big table and telling him if he wants to eat he needs to sit at the table. I know this will be a big fight and am nervous he might not eat... What to do, what to do.... Denise veggie and mother of a 2 year old veggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 Two and three are tough ages (three is the worst, except for 13). At two, we expected Alyssa to sit with us at the table, sometimes she would eat and sometimes she would play. There were nights she would have a snit after two minutes, other nights she would sit through the whole meal. Before she turned four (probably 3-1/2), she was sitting through the meal. My nephew was more of a grazer, and didn't start eating whole meals until around four. --- On Tue, 10/21/08, jayroe <jayroe wrote: jayroe <jayroe sitting at the table.... Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 12:34 PM Hi, This question has to do with mealtime. I am asking this group because you guys all seem to have the same style of parenting that I do and I value your feedback. I have a 2 year old son. I cannot get him to sit at the table and eat a meal. He will only eat at " his table " . Does anyone have any suggestions? Is anyone else having this issue? I thought about putting his food at the big table and telling him if he wants to eat he needs to sit at the table. I know this will be a big fight and am nervous he might not eat... What to do, what to do.... Denise veggie and mother of a 2 year old veggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 Kids will eat when they are hungry, right? That is the first thing I thought the responses would say! LOL I really like the idea about moving the little table next to the big table. When is it appropriate for him to sit at his table? After a week of verbal reinforcement of when the little table is acceptable and is not acceptable should get him into a routine. I agree that the dinner table is meant for family. My daughter and I eat together at the table each night. I grew up in that setting as well. Part of me says, stand your ground! You are the parent and a child needs boundaries and routine. I guess I am not much help Sorry about this. I hope that something works for your son and yourself. Cassie --- On Tue, 10/21/08, jayroe <jayroe wrote: jayroe <jayroe sitting at the table.... Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 1:34 PM Hi, This question has to do with mealtime. I am asking this group because you guys all seem to have the same style of parenting that I do and I value your feedback. I have a 2 year old son. I cannot get him to sit at the table and eat a meal. He will only eat at " his table " . Does anyone have any suggestions? Is anyone else having this issue? I thought about putting his food at the big table and telling him if he wants to eat he needs to sit at the table. I know this will be a big fight and am nervous he might not eat... What to do, what to do.... Denise veggie and mother of a 2 year old veggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 Here is what worked for us... When it came to teaching our son to sleep independently or eat at the table, we decided its best to wait till we saw signs of readiness. You could certainly start working on it early...but most of the time, it either gets frustrating for the parent (and nobody enjoys a quiet and satisfying meal at the end) or becomes a power struggle. Its the last thing we wanted after a long day at work!! It all fell right into place much easily by the time he turned 3 and half. So, i would say, go with the flow till the time you sense your child is ready. On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 11:34 AM, jayroe <jayroe > wrote: > Hi, > > This question has to do with mealtime. > I am asking this group because you guys all seem to have the same > style of parenting that I do and I value your feedback. > I have a 2 year old son. > I cannot get him to sit at the table and eat a meal. > He will only eat at " his table " . > Does anyone have any suggestions? > Is anyone else having this issue? > I thought about putting his food at the big table and telling him if > he wants to eat he needs to sit at the table. > I know this will be a big fight and am nervous he might not eat... > What to do, what to do.... > > Denise > veggie and mother of a 2 year old veggie > > > -- " if voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal. " ~emma goldman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 Hi, Thanks to everyone for all of the feedback from my post. I now have a different perspective. I love this group!!! Denise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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