A post for a page in my parenting book.
Sometimes extreme challenges arise and we can choose to stand up and face our challenges or shrink down and let them wash over us like the relentless ocean waves. I have been choosing the ocean waves with Edward for a while now because I didn't want to deal with a battle three times a day. Yeah, I talking about the food battle. I, somehow, became "that Mom" who makes three different meals at each mealtime through out the day. Was that easier than dealing with a tantrum? I told myself, yes.
Today, I had enough. I went to sleep around 1:30 AM after a long night at rehearsal and then helped spike the set. Let's just say, this wasn't the best day to pick to battle my two year. In any case, like I said, I had enough. Edward said he was hungry. I dutifully went to the kitchen and cooked him a scrambled egg. Edward promptly came to the kitchen and told me "NO EGG!" I asked him what he wanted to eat. He replied a resounding "NO" to everything I offered. I thought to myself, "I have given him so many choices, yet he chooses to be unhappy and not eat." I decided, in my sleepy state, to just put the egg on the table and tell him that was his breakfast.
Let the tantrums begin! Edward even hit me twice so he had to spend some time in time-out then apologize before he could join us back at the table. I ignored Edward for about 20 minutes while I fed Nolen and ate my own delicious breakfast. The crying continued and was followed by, "I too sad to eat." I was really about to give in, then I had an amazing idea. I stayed calm (surprising, I know) and told Nolen he could have a Popsicle for eating all of his breakfast.
Oh, the crying got louder! "I want Popsicle!" I said, calmly, "You may have a Popsicle once you eat all of your breakfast." Something changed in Edward. He jumped up on his chair and ate EVERY LAST BITE! I really wanted to force the feed Edward at this point but somehow managed to stay calm. In the end he didn't even want a Popsicle, he was just hungry.
I try to pick my battles carefully. I pick battles I know I can win but is that really fair? I am scared of losing...to a two year old! I have attempted potty training and haven't had a single success. Not one. I know we are all afraid of failure but I am pretty sure I would rather have a successful man leave my house than a sad little boy who can't use the potty nor eat anything that is prepared for him.
One small step in the right direction. We will see if lunch goes any better...
