Picky dinner guests (kids)

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

These kids will get straight when they start being invited to their friends' houses for overnights. Being called "babies" because they won't eat what is there will be much more effective than anything the limp-noodle parents could ever try.

Oh, they do go to other kids' houses and sleep over. They also are in boy scouts and do those overnights. I honestly don't know what they do regarding food. I'll try to find out (and ask in a way that doesn't make her defensive lol).

I know that I should/could limit the time i spend with them, but in the end, they are family. I kept to myself when the food drama started, and just distracted myself by coloring with #3 (who, by the way, made me a book out of drawings, stapled it, made a cover for it, and just stole my heart). As I get sicker, more and more of my "social" time is spent with family, who understands my needs and limitations, versus a huge group of friends who still like to go to bars and party all night.

Thanks for the very helpful suggestions and insights. I think that the next time I host a food-related event, I will talk to the kid one on one and tell him that I am not going to waste food, and that what he asks for, is what he'll eat. No one can argue with common sense. I know that in the grand scheme of things, this isn't important, but when I throw a picnic or dinner, it takes a lot of energy, and I hate for it to leave it on a bad note. I want my nieces and nephews to respect me, but also remember me fondly.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Thanks for the very helpful suggestions and insights. I think that the next time I host a food-related event, I will talk to the kid one on one and tell him that I am not going to waste food, and that what he asks for, is what he'll eat. No one can argue with common sense. I know that in the grand scheme of things, this isn't important, but when I throw a picnic or dinner, it takes a lot of energy, and I hate for it to leave it on a bad note. I want my nieces and nephews to respect me, but also remember me fondly.

Honest opinion, you know kids' attention spans are are short as a sip of water. Not to mention if they do listen, they will try you just because. You need to square this away with their parents first and instruct them on your house rules so you don't have to worry about this again.

If it's still a sore point, then as we all have more or less said, they can stay home or find someplace else to eat.

You are kind enough to have food available when company comes but it's not fair that you cater to their whims.

I hope it all works out for you!

[libramunoz]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Honest opinion, you know kids' attention spans are are short as a sip of water. Not to mention if they do listen, they will try you just because. You need to square this away with their parents first and instruct them on your house rules so you don't have to worry about this again.

If it's still a sore point, then as we all have more or less said, they can stay home or find someplace else to eat.

You are kind enough to have food available when company comes but it's not fair that you cater to their whims.

I hope it all works out for you!

I am very much in agreement with DS.

The issue isn't with having to take it "up with the kids" and talk with them, it's talking with your sister.

I'm sorry, but I am not, as they say in TX, finna waste food, family or not! I will be damned and some ass would be busted! I have NO problem in whipping the ass of the kiddies or of the family! Plain and simple.

You don't like what I am serving, you see the door you walked in, walk you and your families ass out of it and don't look back!

Ree, I know that you enjoy your family, but you have to set some definitive limits for yourself. You sister is using both your illness and her kids against you to allow her children to get away with being mannerless.

These children are, as my Momma would say, Cruising for a bruising. Because I bet you a dime to a dollar, at their friends houses or camp outs with the Cub Scouts, they don't pull that crap. Kids know who they can get away with crap and who they can't. And if they see that they can get away with their behavior and NO ONE will CORRECT their rude butt behavior, they will.

And I'm sorry, but this is just the issue of it. They are seeing that their Mother and Father are allowing this behavior without correction, but unless you become willing to stand up to Momma and Poppa, the kids are going to continue with the same behavior towards you and your family.

Baby Girl, you just gotta stand up to sis and let her know, hey, this is what I'm cooking, don't want it, got two options, leave or eat. Then on top of that you need to let her know that hey, if you bring something to my house that I didn't want brought in (in order to continue your children in being mannerless), hey, you got to go, I don't know where, but you're getting the hell up outta here.