Why do I even bother feeding this child?!

[Momof4]

I wouldn't dump out breast milk though! Oy! But if it's regular milk I think dumping out a bit might be a great idea so the child eats some nutritious food.

Cfred, I was thinking that we agree a lot too. Is that exactly what you do for your children when you are teaching them not to throw food on the floor. Any other tips? I'm always willing to try anything that works well.

Hey, imagine how boring the world would be if we were all the same! You're obviously at a place in your life where you want to socialize lots and I'm at a place right now where my 4 children are grown and I'm loving my alone time in the evenings.

[cfred]

I do pretty much what you do. Sometimes, I'll stop what I'm doing, look at them open mouthed and do an over exaggerated gasp and say "Oh my GOODNESS! What are you DOING? NO thank you!!! I'm so sad now!". When I do that, they just stop moving, jabbering, breathing and look like they've just cut me down in my prime. It seems to really work.....I know they want me to be happy, so when they think they've made me very sad, it's kind of adorable....and effective That's a 'big gun' maneuver, and I don't use it all the time.....typically when the carnage is particularly impressive.

I do love my alone time. My kids are older too (22, 17, 15....can see the light at the end of the tunnel). The 2 left at home are the boys....as much as I enjoy the symphony of burps and farts, I do enjoy my couple nights per week of escaping. I just seem to be busy all the time. For the most part I like it and am very, very social, but sometimes, yes, I'd rather just stay in. It seems, since I moved, my friends from the old street are worried I'll lose touch, so I see them more now than ever. And of course, there's Awesome New Guy eating up lots of time as well. But sometimes......somet imes.....I sit at home and indulge in those single behaviours....with hairy legs, flannel jammies, no makeup and a criminally large glass of wine

[Momof4]

Oh, I thought I remembered his name as Mr. Amazing, lol! I stand corrected and so glad he's still around, keep doing the right thing Mr. Awesome New Guy until you turn into Mr. Awesome Regular Guy.

Thanks Cfred, I do the No Thank You thing too and a sad face. I think I have a pretty good pout judging from the memories of the pouts on my own children's faces that used to melt my heart. So it works on the dckids. But I don't want to admit to being a submissive Mom, haha. I was tough! I never coddled! My children are 20's and ahem 30's, I'm not telling you the exact ages but I was a teenage bride/mom!

[playfelt]

My words are an "excuse me" with that glare that says tell me I just did not see/hear what I think I did. Works for almost anything around here. When I say it they know by my tone of voice and degree of glare how much trouble they are in. Often they look back at me and do the right thing like give a toy back, pick up what they dumped, etc. For food issues I limit what goes on the plates but also don't believe in teaching a child that the tray is a plate. From the beginning the cherrios go on a plastic lid from a container - something unbreakable when tossed but to get the point across that the plate is not a toy and stays put.

[5 Little Monkeys]

haha, Playfelt sounds like we have the same glare!! I also say "excuse me".....it gives them a chance to fix their mistake or change what they said too!

I also don't use the highchair tray as a plate as I find it harder to clean because it's a bigger area!