The middle of summer break, and I am thinking about all of the things that I am supposed to get my kids to do that they don’t want to: work on math skills, reading, playing the recorder. I am exhausted just thinking about it. I, like many of you, work every day to hold things together, managing everyone’s schedule, maintaining some level of household cleanliness, keeping food in the house. Don’t parents deserve a break?
Apparently not. Whichever way I turn, someone wants something from me. Every morning, and I mean EVERY morning, my kids ask me “what can I have for breakfast”. I tell them, the same as always: eggs, pancakes, cereal, toast, cinnamon raisin bagel, or even pizza, tofu or teriyaki noodles. I don’t care what it is as long as it is not completely sugar or fat. I just want them to eat before they leave the house. Yet, this becomes exhausting for me as they won’t make a decision while it gets closer and closer to the time to leave for camp.
Of course, if you have read any of my blogs, I only have myself to blame. One of my rules is don’t ask your kids what they want to eat. Just put food on the table and let them eat it or not. I do this at dinner time. I cook what I want, call everyone to the table and serve. I thought that at ages 9 and 13 years I could give my kids a choice about a meal as simple as breakfast. Wrong. They just drag it out. Tomorrow I will offer them a choice of two items. If they don’t want it, they are on their own. I will leave on time, whether they have eaten or not. Wish me strength. I need it.
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