New Laws
I just got mean and laid down a new law that I’m now going to have to enforce. This is a frequent problem with New Laws. And yet I continue to make them. And then in moments of weakness or tiredness I allow my kids to disregard them. Then in moments of stress I either reinstate the old New Law or make a new New Law. The “No Eating in the Family Room” rule cycles through this process about once a week.
My kids have been accustomed to eating dinner and then selecting a snack before bed. This often meant that they fought over every required bite at dinner and then filled up on toast right before bed. When I was microwaving frozen things for dinner I didn’t mind so much. Now I’m spending time on actual cooking. Seeing the carefully planned and prepared food go uneaten bothers me because there was actual work involved.
Tonight Kiki gobbled up two helpings. Patches plowed through the food on his plate. Gleek and Link battled over ever bite. They also battled over going to bed and once in bed declared “I’m hungry!” I was mad. I scolded. Then I allowed them to get out of bed, but declared the New Law: “Kids who do not eat dinner have to eat dinner at snack time.” Then to rub in the lesson I got Kiki out of bed and let her eat a cookie for a snack. There was wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth. I then informed Gleek and Link that they could also have a cookie if they cleaned their plates first. 30 minutes later they still had food on the plates, I sent them to bed anyway. I’ve saved the plates of food. If they finish them tomorrow then they can have a cookie.
I think that as long as I’m cooking meals this New Law will actually be applied. Hopefully it will quickly become accepted and prevent future evenings from being as emotionally wringing as this one was.