Perhaps We Need Jessica Seinfeld?
Family dinner is incredibly important to me. Everyday I try to get to work early so that I can be home in time to make something tasty. This past weekend, I spent HOURS cooking so that even on days that I wasn't home before 5:30 (like today), we could have something homemade and delicious. Sadly, my kids could care less.
Max has an excuse. He seems to have a bit of a cold, and was just too fussy to focus on dinner. He was fast asleep by 7:10. But Dylan? Dylan was just busting my chops from the start. Max only wants to watch CARS these days, but she insisted on playing Barbie Nutcracker. Fine, I get that. I also find it hard to watch the same thing over and over. But then dinner was ready and she refused to pause the movie. I asked five times. She kept saying, "But mom, it's almost over." That's when I grit my teeth, yelled really loud and just lost it.
Paty and I are the only ones who ate the dinner that I made (cannelloni with homemade spinach/portobello sauce). Max sat on my lap crying and dripping snot on my lap. And Dylan was in her room upstairs. Screaming. When she finally calmed down enough to eat, she pronounced the meal "disgusting." This is happening with increasing frequency.
I still believe that family dinner is important, but I'm tired of the battles. My party line is that kids need to be served the same foods that the adults eat. The reality though? It's kicking my ass.
Max has an excuse. He seems to have a bit of a cold, and was just too fussy to focus on dinner. He was fast asleep by 7:10. But Dylan? Dylan was just busting my chops from the start. Max only wants to watch CARS these days, but she insisted on playing Barbie Nutcracker. Fine, I get that. I also find it hard to watch the same thing over and over. But then dinner was ready and she refused to pause the movie. I asked five times. She kept saying, "But mom, it's almost over." That's when I grit my teeth, yelled really loud and just lost it.
Paty and I are the only ones who ate the dinner that I made (cannelloni with homemade spinach/portobello sauce). Max sat on my lap crying and dripping snot on my lap. And Dylan was in her room upstairs. Screaming. When she finally calmed down enough to eat, she pronounced the meal "disgusting." This is happening with increasing frequency.
I still believe that family dinner is important, but I'm tired of the battles. My party line is that kids need to be served the same foods that the adults eat. The reality though? It's kicking my ass.
