Finally here. I’ve been meaning to post ALL DAY! Actually I meant to post yesterday but it didn’t happen. And then it didn’t happen and didn’t happen and didn’t happen. Oh, and did I mention that it is swelteringly hot here? It’s like you’re already having trouble getting your shit together and then you’re all wilty on top of it. (Nobody likes to be wilty.)
I’ve discovered a new talent. Since it’s been so hot Chance has been a bit reluctant to eat solid food. He’s great with the smoothies, icies, drinks of all kinds… but he just hasn’t been as interested in other foods. He also has recently taken up with the ol’ “drop and watch”. You know, where they drop the food and then watch it bounce or roll or splat on the floor. (Yeah, I didn’t think I had to explain that either.) Especially with peas. Peas are super duper entertaining (groan with me now).
OK. So I guess this wouldn’t be such a big deal if I had him sitting in his high chair, in the linoleum-floored kitchen, to eat his meals. Except I don’t. Under advice from our pediatrician she mentioned just putting the food out and letting him eat at will. Toddlers like to roam, you know. Like little grazers: snack snack, play, snack. (It’s this whole preventing obesity / anti-power struggle with early eaters thing.) And since me and Keen like to eat in the living room (I know), in front of the TV (I know, I know!), on the couch and at the coffee table (not even proper chairs) well… we let Chance do the same. (I so totally get that I’m probably setting myself up for a slew of problems later on. Eventually we will eat dinner at the table. sometime.)
But here’s where it gets difficult. Chance is playing the drop and watch on a patterned rug. With lots of colors and… patterns. So, like, can I see those peas? No.
Can I find the peas? Oh yes. My feet have become highly attuned to the feel of discarded food. They are so sensitive that with the merest brush of contact I can tell the difference between hotdog and bologna, peas and corn, graham cracker and cheerio, cheese even – cheddar or jack. I can even estimate how long it’s been sitting on the floor from its state of softening/stiffening/ability to squirm away. Scientists should come calibrate instruments off my frickin’ feet (and maybe look for new bacteria). And the saddest part? I’ve gotten so good at identifying the food I don’t even grind it into the carpet. As soon as I feel a little texture, a little smooshing, my foot jerks up reflexively and I swoop down to pick it up. (It’s SO Pavlovian!)
I figure I can rent out my services. You know, after hours in various dimly-lit establishments, clubs, dinner parties – after the meal but before the morning clean-up crew. I can walk around in my bare feet and not only find but identify all the foodstuffs spilled on the floor. Get to those potential staining elements first. “Um, guys? Berries over here!… Tomato sauce. I’ve found tomato sauce.”
Yes, it’s gross but I’ll be charging a hefty fee. This will definitely be added to the resume.
– the weirdgirl
Kids will often times throw food down just to see a parent’s reaction. I’d same maybe Chance likes watching you jerk your foot upwards like a flamingo.
Since becoming a parent of twins I have amazing foot skills. I can not only locate food on a patterend rug, I can also pick up small trucks, crayons and dinosaurs from under a restaurant table without looking (I don’t recommend this) and I can gather up bears and baby dolls while hoding at least one child.
We are grazers here. It’s painful because she’ll eat then go play. But, she actually does pretty well in restaurants, so I guess I’m not teaching her bad habits. There’s no way she would eat all in one sitting (or three).
Phoenix, I think you could be right! (Just more evidence at how trained I’ve become.)
He’s done O-K in restaurants so far. He’s not too messy, he’s just LOUD (as in talkative, not crying at least). Luckily, I haven’t had to do the blind grope under the table thing… yet.
My nephew is a grazer, which his mom has claimed that follows his sister’s behavior pattern. Is grazing about eating smaller meals through the day to prevent spikes in blood sugar and prevent obesity? And is the obesity claim due to getting away from stuffing yourself because you need to finish your plate, no matter the cost to your growing gut and the rest of you? Hmmm…
I always wondered if the grazing follows a more natural pattern, then should the three squares be introduced? Sometimes I think they’re just an easy way to keep the parents from cooking all the time, cleaning up in too many places, and learn to spend family time with grandma at the table where we all grew up.
At six, my nephew happily grazes at his home (he’s getting better about the crumbs and telling the dog to sit inches away from his plate) and reluctantly sits at grandma’s table. His parents don’t like the power struggle either, but grandma wouldn’t have it another way.
Hm, sounds a lot like home. I am looking right now at our soy sauce-encrusted coffee table, and many a food stain on our beige hemp rug that we bought a second before I became pregnant. If it wasn’t “patterned” before, it is now.
I feel your stain.
(Ha! Couldn’t resist.)
I hear you about the patterned rug. What used to cleverly hide party stains now cleverly hides toddler discard. I was debating pulling up the rugs altogether and going bare hardwood until he goes to college.
The whole grazer thing is for a couple of reasons. First, it’s just part of the behavior of toddlers this age; they don’t eat as much and are very active, it’s hard for any one thing (like eating) to hold their attention for long. The second part is about establishing better eating habits. Letting kids control (to a point) how much they’re eating, so they don’t get in the habit of eating when they’re not hungry; as might happen if you schedule your child’s eating habits too much at this age. This methodology is really particular to this early age/eating stage. Once the kids get a little older it’s a whole different story.
I actually agree with having the whole family sit at the table, but it’s hard to impose on a 15-month-old. For now, we all do eat (roughly) at the same time (in front of the TV) so when we transition to sitting down at the table he understands the general idea. And so far, at other people’s houses he’s been fine in the highchair when we were all eating together. We’re just slackers at home.
Sorry for the late answer! Email comments notifications aren’t working right now and I JUST saw the new comments. (I’ve been having bad technical karma all around.)