I wanted to get this down in writing since we have been having some huge challenges around here lately. Hopefully I look back on this post (soon!) and laugh. Right now there is more crying than laughing!
Challenge #1: Meal time has never been easy, but lately it is downright difficult. I cringe every time it is time for a meal because they are so stressful. I'm also at a loss for how to "fix" our problems. Right now I'm hoping that they'll just go away with time as it seems like everything I have tried has failed. Here's what our meals look like:
- Breakfast: When the girls wake up they are typically happy. However, the minute we get downstairs the whining and crying begin. I can't get breakfast on the table fast enough. Both girls are at my feet begging and whining for their milk. They will only eat waffles for breakfast so while those are in the toaster, they continue to whine. By the time the waffles have popped out of the toaster Little Pie is in full blown tears. It's like she doesn't think I'm going to give her any food. I try offering bananas to occupy them while they wait for the waffles. This doesn't help; they want their waffles NOW. When the waffles are ready, they calm down. Little Bird daintily eats hers while Little Pie shoves hers down her throat. She is done by the time I have poured myself a bowl of cereal. When I sit down at the table, Little Pie begs and whines for more breakfast. She can seriously eat 3 waffles, a banana and some cereal for breakfast. Lately she has refused the cereal and begged for more waffles. She usually leaves the table in tears because she is whining for stuff she can't have (this morning it was cupcakes). Is she really so starving?
- Lunch: Lunch is the calmest meal of the day, however if it is not mac and cheese the girls won't eat it. They are typically good about eating all of their mac and cheese as well as some fruit. Lately Little Pie is in to grapes (constantly begging for more grapes). However, I expect this to change soon as she is only into a specific fruit for a certain amount of time before she decides she's sick of it. Little Bird is the same way. Sometimes eating two bananas, sometimes refusing them. Sometimes eating apples, sometimes refusing them. I can't win. Also, even though they are perfectly capable of feeding themselves their mac and cheese, the refuse to do it; whining and begging until I do it for them. Sandwiches are out of the question. I could put a PB&J sandwich on their plate and they would not eat it. I would say that Little Pie leaves the table in tears about 25% of the time.
- Dinner: I HATE dinner. I LOATH dinner. I can't stand dinner. I don't want to make or serve dinner. Dinner is the absolute WORST part of the day. I would be willing to hire someone to come to my house and "deal with" everything that has to do with dinner. Long story short, the girls don't eat dinner. Little Pie acts like she is excited to sit down for dinner; happily washing her hands and cheerfully sitting down in her chair. But the minute she sees her plate, she bursts into tears and pushes it way, throwing utensils and milk cups on the floor. Little Bird stares in disbelief, maybe takes one or two bites from her plate and then whines to get out of her chair. The only time Little Pie will sit and eat dinner is if it is pancakes (can you tell someone likes breakfast foods!?). Little Bird will only eat pasta, but not if it's served more than one day. Daddy is never home for dinner so we don't eat with the girls. I never know what to make for dinner. Should I just make what I want since none of the other people in the family care? Should I try to please people even though I have no idea what anybody else in the family wants? This is why I would be willing to pay big bucks for someone to take over this horrible time of day.
- Snacks: You would think that the girls would be starving. And they must be. They are constantly begging for crackers. (Right now it is 8:32 am and Little Bird is asking for crackers. She had two waffles and a banana at 7:30. Is she really starving?) Both girls ask for crackers all day long. Sometimes I give them some, but sometimes I don't. I try to redirect them to fruit instead (don't even try vegetables!) but they aren't satisfied with that. Both girls could eat a box of crackers a day if they were allowed. When they get up from a nap they expect crackers for a snack. If they eat too many they definitely won't eat dinner, but if they don't get enough they will be horribly crabby the rest of the day. I don't know what to do!
Challenge #2: Adjusting to the time change has been very difficult. I didn't remember it being so awful last year. The girls are up at 5:45. They don't go back to sleep. They talk and giggle and scream at each other. I refuse to get them out of bed that early so I leave them there until at least 6:45. I can't fall back asleep no matter how many pillows I put over my head. I'm so exhausted and so are they, yet they still don't sleep in. They can get quite crabby in the morning and I can tell they are just so tired. In fact, Little Pie fell asleep in the car on the way to Target. If she is so tired at 9 am, why doesn't she learn to sleep past 5:45!?!? They are still going to bed at 7 and as everyone knows, putting them to bed later definitely won't help them sleep in. I just don't understand why it takes so long to adjust. I want/need more sleep!
OK, I've vented in writing and feel a little better. I really do hope that these challenges ease up. I know that things could be harder and that these challenges are somewhat silly. But, I think I'm just so frustrated with them because they make me feel like I'm not doing the right thing or that the girls are not going to be healthy. But, I know we'll get this figured out soon.
I am sooooooooooo on your page right now. I dispise this day lights savings crap. Serioulsy....5am is the new idea!! And, they had just started sleeping a little later. And, the meals....I hear ya there, too. We want to feed them good, healthy foods. And, we try...but at the end of the day....we can't listen to whining all day long. HANG IN THERE!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hear you on so many of these points! We've gone through a rough patch with naps over the past couple of months. The girls originally did great transitioning to one nap (in late July), but these days I find myself holding my breath during most naptimes. Occasionally we'll get a beautiful 3-hour stretch...and sometimes - like yesterday - I think the girls probably sleep less than an hour. UGH!
ReplyDeleteAnd with eating, we'll have days - even weeks, sometimes it seems - where they eat really well. And then we'll go through patches where they seem to just pick at their food, and smear it in their hair...UGH! :)
I try really hard to step back and think of most of these issues as temporary. For me, I try to remain consistent with my approach, knowing it's what has worked to date, and what I want to continue to work. That's definitely a difficult thing to do at times, though.
Hang in there, Mama, and know you're not alone! :)