More on Food (ugg)

I am very excited to say that we are reaping some benefits to our 'food rules'. I have really pushed all of us to simply not allow Ayden Jane that 'one cracker' or 'just one bite' or 'one chip'. I have even really pushed the family to not share even things that Ayden Jane is just fine to eat from our plates. Sometimes it is really annoying.

So why did I choose to be so tough on these things? Well, I have 2 active teens and an almost 9 year old. They all have friends around at times and Gary has a very odd schedule working 12 hour night shifts. End result? There is almost always someone eating. It would be nearly impossible to monitor how much Ayden Jane really was eating if she was allowed to graze... Also, I was trying to look ahead to school where sharing food and trading food tends to happen. (Even when the rule is not to)


It was really hard at first. Ayden Jane was just in that toddler phase of wanting a bit of everything we have just like she wants to try to do everything we do. We had lots of whining, but held firm to the, "no, you cannot have those they are Noah's. If you are hungry you may have..." We have begun to say things like, "no, you may not have the goldfish because they do not make you strong. You may have..." For the most part if she is truly hungry she will climb up in the chair for the snack. Otherwise she whines for just a second and then is very easily distracted. At this point life is good.

So why the never, not even one approach? It just seems that with Ayden Jane black and white rules are much easier. Maybe it is age, maybe PWS or maybe it is just her, but she does not do well with rules that are messed with. At this point, Ayden Jane goes to the nursery at church and when they do snack it is always goldfish. They give the kids a little dixie cup with them... I pack almonds and at this point, Ayden Jane will tell them, "go get almonds in my back pack." They throw a few almonds in her cup and she is a happy little clam. Just the way AJ operates I know that she would have a really hard time with yes to a cracker today, but no tomorrow.

Well, at least all is well for now. Okay, she is two so its not always totally smooth... but there is no doubt at this point who is the boss. (yes, I mean me) At meal times she has hers and we have ours and she is happy with that. When the big kids are eating snacks she mostly is fine with it and just goes on her merry way. If she wants some the big kids are good and telling her it is their snack and to ask Mommy if she can have a snack... Laying the ground rules early was not fun, but it is paying off now.