Thoughts at the end of August
1. I’ve started reading The Artist’s Way. I love it.
2. I have margin in my life again now that my two big girls are back in school and I also love that. I’m already wanting to plan for next summer so it goes better than this one did.
3. Alyssa Pike and I have been chatting on her podcast! Our first episode back was on motherhood related topics and next we are starting a book club podcast series on Habits of the Household. I love getting to spend time with Alyssa and chat.
4. One of my girls told me that my hair looked like a bird’s hair. I think it was a compliment, as she loves birds. But I’m not sure. And when I asked her…she wasn’t sure. Lol.
5. I’m finding myself overwhelmed by my child’s picky eating behaviors. I find it hard to hold limits (specifically, not be a short-order cook), but then also really (and probably overly) empathize with how she is genuinely disgusted by certain foods. She will not eat disgusting (to her) foods, even if she is hungry. As a kid, I still remember a handful of foods that made me gag when I tried to eat them because I was so innately disgusted by them (specifically, mushrooms and whole wheat pancakes). Recently, I was learning more about food avoidance in kids. Understanding the root cause of the food avoidance is helpful. Food avoidance is driven by anxiety or disgust. My daughter’s root cause is *clearly* disgust. I remember one continuing education I watched years ago for kids with sensory issues that said for some kids it’s as if they are chewing on glass when eating certain foods.
After we were on vacation, I made her oatmeal and she reacted with, “ugh! MOM! This is not what I ordered.” LOL. I was reflecting on some of the struggles lately and my biggest goal is to get her to willingly stay at the dinner table and have a nice time at the dinner table. I care more about that than what she eats. So, my plan for her is a whole grain waffle with nutella + milk + fruit. And, she will probably be eating that specific meal for 2 meals a day. A part of me is still piping up about, “but what about the exposure to new foods?!” But honestly, I’ve been prioritizing that for her entire life and it isn’t working for her or us. Out with the old, in with the new! There is plenty of *access* to new foods for her, even if I’m making her a separate meal. Her having access to new foods is still an exposure…I’m going to lean into that true statement more.
The other night when she was fighting bedtime I was drinking a spinach/banana/almond butter smoothie that she’s tried and disliked probably 20 times over the last 2 years. She asked if she could try it and when she did her face lit up and she said something to the effect of, “that is amazing!” And I’m left like, “what the actual heck.” I know about neophobia with kids and having to exposure them to new foods 11+ times for them to get comfortable with it *and* I’m exhausted by it lol. I’m gonna venture to say that the only time she will be excited to have that smoothie is when it means she doesn’t have to go to bed. Gross (to her) smoothie > having to go to bed. Ay yi yi.
6. My sister’s new baby boys are the most perfect.
Love your hair! Also love “The Artist’s Way”. Glad you’re enjoying it!
:)
My oldest is only two, but the picky eating is exhausting. I find it so wearing everyday. I appreciate your approach here 💜
Me too.
Thank you for taking the time to write to us! It truly is a help in many ways, and I like keeping updated old school blogger style. I really liked your thoughts on picky eating. I have a picky eater too and for a while she would only eat Nutella sandwiches. Does anyone have any resources on sugar causing behavior issues? Everyone seems to think that it causes kids to go crazy, and then I feel crazy for feeding my kids Nutella sandwiches. It kinda seems like a myth to me, but I honestly have no idea.
Hi Heather,
Sugar is just a carbohydrate source. It doesn’t cause kids to go crazy or be more rambunctious, however sugar is often fed at really fun times when kids are “going crazy.” Like, at a birthday party. Kids are acting crazy because they are having a blast with their friends, not because they ate cake.
My son is very picky and I always think of my coworker telling me he only ate peanut butter sandwiches for 10 years and had a robust palate as an adult. I really don’t stress at all about the food situation with my kids (and I sometimes feel bad that I don’t since it seems like maybe I should care more about what they eat?) but I figure they’ll try to stuff when they’re ready and willing!
I like this approach and think it’s a good one. I go in and out of that way of thinking and then wanting to engage with my 5 year olds habits a bit more. I’ve also been thinking how me and my husband are very food excited people and I think maybe our 5 yr old just isn’t as food focused as us. She’d rather just eat some fruit snacks and get on with collecting feathers or watched watching tv or whatever it may be.