Sunday, September 14, 2008

No dinner and the stomach flu

Last Sunday Ashlyn was being such a stinker about eating. Out of all three meals I made her she didn't eat a single one. Breakfast I put her cheerios in the wrong color bowl so she cried about the color of the bowl until they were too soggy to eat. Lunch I don't remember, but she didn't eat that. Dinner she is just always a challenge regardless of what I make and this night wasn't any different. I had made a nice roast with mashed potatoes, fresh rolls, corn etc. and she just refused to eat any of it. So as I was cleaning up dinner I told her I was done cooking for her because she never eats any of the food I make her. I told her that the next day she would have to figure out a way to get her own meals.
So Monday morning comes and I am in bed with the stomach flu. I had spend the night on the bathroom floor and was in no mood to get anyone any kind of food. Lucky for me I had put Ashlyn in charge of her own food for the day- one less thing for me to do. She came in at 7am and first thing she says is that she was hungry and wanted breakfast. I said great what are you going to make yourself. She looked at me like I was kidding and I reminded her she had to get her own food for the day. She whined about it for a minute and then decided she was hungry enough to figure something out. I was half asleep, but I could hear a chair being pushed around the kitchen and about 45 min. later she came to report she had gotten herself a bowl of cereal and had even poured her own milk. Now had I not been sick I probably would have given in and at least poured her milk so I wouldn't be mopping my floor, but I think it was good I couldn't intervene.
She also got herself dressed and did her own hair- I had to take a picture! For lunch I finally asked her around 1:00 what she was going to fix herself for lunch and she said she was going to see if her friend Afton's mom would fix her lunch. She knew she would be going to her house that day, but not until like 2:30. She waited, and then Trista said the minute Ashlyn got there she asked her for some lunch.
Ashlyn: Trista, I'm hungry will you make me some lunch? My mom didn't make me lunch and she isn't going to cook for me ever again.
Trista: Oh honey, your mommy just has the flu and doesn't feel good. I'm sure she'll cook for you again when she feels better.
Ashlyn: No, she said she's not ever going to cook for me again because I don't eat my dinner!
I'm happy to report I'm cooking for Ashlyn again and she is doing a lot better with eating her meals! I guess she didn't realize how much she liked my cooking until she didn't have it. Now when she starts to complain about what I made for dinner I just tell her I don't have to cook for her anymore if she doesn't like it. This quites her right away because she knows I'm serious.
Having such a head strong daughter can be such a challenge, but I know it will serve her well throughout her life. I just can't believe sometimes that I'm dealing with a 3 (almost 4) year old and not a teenager!

4 comments:

Leisa said...

Sorry to hear you were sick. I think you handled Ashlyn just right. My kids get thier own breakfast every morning now and Belle would make her lunch if she had to. It makes my life easier and teaches them some self sufficientsy (sp?).

Miss Rachel said...

I love it. Love and Logic at its finest;0)

Jill said...

I'm glad Ashlyn is eating better. I can tell it is so frustrating when she doesn't eat...and roast and potatoes, how can you pass that up? Anytime she won't eat, I'll take her place. :)

Greg & Alex said...

Holy...in that picture it looks like she grew about 5 inches....long legs!