Will be quiet for food.
Obviously I had a wonderful time hanging out with my best friend Lanette, doing just a little bit of our favorite things….running, talking, sleeping, talking, eating, talking, sitting by the pool talking, relaxing on the beach, talking, looking at houses, talking, shopping, talking, tasting wine, talking, downing martinis, and of course more talking. She lives 1000 miles away from me, so we had a lot to catch up on!
But some of you have inquired about how my husband did with all 3 kids, and no babysitter, all weekend. First, I have to preface this by saying that when I’m away, my husband does NOT cook. He can cook, but he chooses not to (in much the same way that I CAN clean, but I choose not to). But one would think that with our three kids, he would not want to even attempt to venture out to a restaurant, not if he wanted all of his wits in tact at the end of the meal, right? WRONG!
They went out for every meal, some were even buffets. How he was able manage a 5 year old, 2 year old and 9 month old AND get all of their food and drinks on his own, I have no idea. But he did remark that at our usual breakfast buffet, one lady commented at how well behaved all the kids were.
What was his secret? Bribery perhaps? Hypnosis? Maybe a little magic?
Nope.
STARVATION! His theory was that if they were so incredibly hungry, they would want to do nothing else but eat, eat and eat. No screaming, no crawling all over the floor, no grabbing plates and toppling over food. Only eating.
On Monday night I was able to see this theory put into action. Because of a little family fishing outing to the lake up the street, we did not sit down and eat dinner until 7 PM ( I usually serve the kids their food close to 5 PM). It was amazing. I looked at Melvin in disbelief and said, “Why in the world is it so quiet?” . “I told you,” he replied. “My approach really works.” The kids were doing nothing but stuffing their faces.
I can’t say that I will subscribe to his technique, but perhaps there’s some sort of lesson I can learn here…..Like next time I go away, hide a stash of snacks in the boys’ bedroom for when their stomach growls become louder than their own mouths.
posted by Undomestic @ 10:40 PM
4 Comments:
Hi Cari,
Hope you enjoyed your trip.
Your story was so funny. Maybe your hubby was having flashbacks, we never had dinner before 7:00p in our house because by the time I got home from work and got something prepared it was always late, and in retrospect... maybe that's why, when I was putting clean clothes away I would always find snacks and jars,( mustard, miracle whip etc.. not bottled, it wasn't popular then ), of water in his brothers', not your hubbys', dresser drawers. Ha Ha.peace& love, Rosalyn
Cari,
I would not discredit Max's theory so quickly. Yes, the children may have lost a couple of pounds before he fed them. But, if you could enjoy a meal as a family without chasing one, cleaning up after another, and hoping one does not throw food across the room--it may be worth trying. Give it some thought that's all I'm saying
Lets hear it for starvation....just don't let Child Protective Services know....or do you want some time away from the kids every once in a while??
Cari, I don't know if you would call it starving the kids, it is called not eating anything before dinner so you did not spoil your appetite. That sounds normal to me as that is how it worked in our household when we grew up. Maybe some old fashion ways are not outdated after all and still work. Luv ya.
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