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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Make Them Wait

Okay - sometimes you just have to tell your child to wait.

I'm continually bombarded these days with whines of "I'm Hungry!!!" These proclamations come even as the child is busily filling her mouth with some food or other. Or, more often, within five minutes of finishing off some lavish snack - the child commences to her claims of hunger.

Well, I'm sorry. I'm not a short order chef or a vending machine. Sometimes the child just needs to wait.

No, the child is NOT actually hungry. What she wants is control and attention. So, in favor of my sanity I have come to insist that my children must wait a length of time before I will provide them with more food.

Sometimes, you just have to stand your ground and let your child learn that waiting will not actually kill them.

9 comments:

The Mother said...

My usual response to "I'm STARVING!"

Can I watch? I've never actually seen a child starve to death before. Could be an interesting case study.

Usually, after that, they just shut up and go away.

And since it takes WEEKS to die of starvation, I sincerely doubt our little darlings will, between 3 pm and dinnertime.

Shucks.

Michelle said...

Gosh, your house sounds like my house. It seems like as soon as I sit down to take a break I hear I'm hungry mommy. Thanks for the great tip. I might just have to make her wait once in while. Thanks for stopping by today and your great comment about EC. Take care.

Anonymous said...

I have a feeling this is going to be a struggle as my son gets older. He's 11 months old and has always been the most easy-going, laid-back baby EXCEPT when he's hungry - he has zero patience and is soooo dramatic!!!! It hasn't improved at all since his first day of life so I can't wait until he can actually talk. . . :/ P.S. There is an award for you on my blog :)

Unknown said...

My 8 month old already has that down, he can't say the words, but he goes from smiling to wailing in 2.5 seconds... what happened in that time to make him sooo hungry (the kicker is that that's right when I'm getting his food ready too!)

Sandi said...

I get this one all the time. Dad usually falls for it and thinks I am terrible for starving the children until I tell him how much they have already eaten.

Petula said...

I am with you on this one: Parents unite! Let's start a "you have to wait" club. ... Okay, I won't vent. I'm glad you posted this because one would swear that my youngest is starved.

Lisa Petrarca said...

I can relate...my 17 and 14 year olds still say that! Does it ever end?

Memories Of Mine said...

This topic is close to my heart too. No matter how many times I say wait their nagging doesn't stop.

Sherrie said...

Amen! My oldest is all about snacks, and it never fails...he wants one as soon as I'm busy doing something else and can't help him. These kids...will they ever learn?!!? :)