I suppose I spoke too soon about Evie's wonderful eating habits. As of the last week, she has been rejecting almost everything I offer her. A lot seems to depend on time of day, but she seems to enjoy dropping food more than eating it. This comes at such a bad time given that my doctor told me I have to start weaning her over the next month because it's taking too much out of me (her pediatrician wanted me to make it much longer). So, now food has to be about nutrition, not just learning. I feel this immense amount of pressure for her to eat her veggies, and have even gone so far as to shove them in her mouth. This goes against everything I've read and the whole baby-led-weaning approach. BLW specifically says NEVER put food in your child's mouth. Never ever. Ever. And here I am doing exactly that. And here she is spitting it out anyway, so why do I keep doing it? I'm creating a battle of wills, and it's so difficult to stop. She's winning anyway, so I really should just stop forcing the issue. I want eating to be a pleasurable time for the whole family, and right now it's becoming stressful. I'm sure she can sense my anxiety and reacts to that, so I know I need to chill. But boy is that hard to do!
For example, today she was an absolute nut the entire day. Officially a toddler. Forget about the terrible two or troublesome threes. Don't they have a catchphrase for one year olds? We started off the day like normal with breakfast before going to the gym. Normally she gobbles up her fruit, and then if she is still hungry she gets some toast (maybe with peanut butter if she's lucky). Today, she threw almost all of her strawberries (what??? she loves those!) and banana bits on the floor. I decided not to reward the behavior and didn't give her anything else to eat. Later, Evie and I met two other moms and babies for brunch, and even before we left I could tell she was still in a mood. Once there, she was doing the high-pitched-little-girl-make-your-ears-bleed-squeal. I offered her toys, spoons, books. Nothing was helping. I knew the restaurant sometimes brought coffee cake to the table, and knew Evie was hungry, so asked them to please bring it asap. They obliged and Evie ate ALL FOUR PIECES. Nobody else at the table got any because she inhaled them. I mean, I couldn't give them too her fast enough. Great job, mom, let your 12.5 month old eat straight sugar for lunch. By the time our meals came, Evie maybe ate three bites of my omelet, and none of the veggies. She did, however, take a bite of my bread. Dr. Atkins, don't call child protective services on me.
Then, for dinner I made balsamic glazed asparagus and wild salmon over rice. Now, to be fair, I was trying the balsamic glaze because she hasn't liked asparagus in the past, and I'd heard this to be a recipe some babies like. She threw all the salmon (seriously? she loves salmon too) and asparagus on the floor and ate individual grains of rice, picking each up with her thumb and fore finger. When it came time for her to get down and help us pick up what she threw, it was only then that she decided to eat the asparagus and salmon. Off the floor. She did that this morning with the strawberries and bananas too. Perfect. Maybe I should get her a dish next to the cat bowl and set up shop there for the next little while. Ugh!
Okay. Phew. Feels better having vented. Tomorrow is a new day after all. Tomorrow I will not put food in her mouth. Tomorrow I will not reward her throwing food on the ground by giving her more food to throw on the ground. Tomorrow I will not react to the high pitched squeals. Tomorrow I will absolutely under no circumstances offer her anything with sugar. Tomorrow I will win this battle of wills by not staging the battle in the first place. Tonight, however, I need a drink.
For example, today she was an absolute nut the entire day. Officially a toddler. Forget about the terrible two or troublesome threes. Don't they have a catchphrase for one year olds? We started off the day like normal with breakfast before going to the gym. Normally she gobbles up her fruit, and then if she is still hungry she gets some toast (maybe with peanut butter if she's lucky). Today, she threw almost all of her strawberries (what??? she loves those!) and banana bits on the floor. I decided not to reward the behavior and didn't give her anything else to eat. Later, Evie and I met two other moms and babies for brunch, and even before we left I could tell she was still in a mood. Once there, she was doing the high-pitched-little-girl-make-your-ears-bleed-squeal. I offered her toys, spoons, books. Nothing was helping. I knew the restaurant sometimes brought coffee cake to the table, and knew Evie was hungry, so asked them to please bring it asap. They obliged and Evie ate ALL FOUR PIECES. Nobody else at the table got any because she inhaled them. I mean, I couldn't give them too her fast enough. Great job, mom, let your 12.5 month old eat straight sugar for lunch. By the time our meals came, Evie maybe ate three bites of my omelet, and none of the veggies. She did, however, take a bite of my bread. Dr. Atkins, don't call child protective services on me.
Then, for dinner I made balsamic glazed asparagus and wild salmon over rice. Now, to be fair, I was trying the balsamic glaze because she hasn't liked asparagus in the past, and I'd heard this to be a recipe some babies like. She threw all the salmon (seriously? she loves salmon too) and asparagus on the floor and ate individual grains of rice, picking each up with her thumb and fore finger. When it came time for her to get down and help us pick up what she threw, it was only then that she decided to eat the asparagus and salmon. Off the floor. She did that this morning with the strawberries and bananas too. Perfect. Maybe I should get her a dish next to the cat bowl and set up shop there for the next little while. Ugh!
Okay. Phew. Feels better having vented. Tomorrow is a new day after all. Tomorrow I will not put food in her mouth. Tomorrow I will not reward her throwing food on the ground by giving her more food to throw on the ground. Tomorrow I will not react to the high pitched squeals. Tomorrow I will absolutely under no circumstances offer her anything with sugar. Tomorrow I will win this battle of wills by not staging the battle in the first place. Tonight, however, I need a drink.
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