Quote Originally Posted by torontokids View Post
I noticed a theme of venting on the forum today so I was hesitant to post (don't want all the negativity to put someone else in a bad mood) but here it is anyways...just to get it off my chest.

DCB- does not eat at home. The parents have asked me on multiple occasions how to help him to become less picky. I have given advice based on what I do e.g. provide one meal that is nutritious and he can eat it or not. She has said she can't do that ad accommodates him at home. If he refuses to eat the meal she has made she will give him bread with butter, eggs, grilled cheese etc. He eats a total of like 4 things for them. Here he eats almost everything. This mom is really trying but she is driving me batty. She thinks its an issue with how she cut his meat or how she sliced his cheese etc. I told her it has nothing to do with and it is a behavioural issue they are reinforcing at home. Yesterday she was surprised to learn he ate lunch (sheppards pie). I even took pics of him wolfing down his second helping and showed them to her because they just can't fathom how he eats so well for me (and I suspect they think I am exaggerating/lying). I said nothing about it and she said something along the lines of "I don't get it! And I'm not going to starve him like you suggested." I'm so done with the subject but she keeps bringing it.
I'm sure you know just from what you put about this situation that the problem lies with the parent/s and it's not a food issue with the child. If mom says she can't accomodate that is her choice but certainly not a matter of can't, just that she doesn't want the difficult task of breaking this bad habit that she has seemingly created and continues to reinforce. Why do so many parents feel guilty about parenting?? I include myself with this question because I have to catch myself before I make choices based on what "feels" best to me based on my emotions, mainly guilt, versus doing what I know to be the best thing for my children even if it makes me feel uncomfortable. I've always been strict with the eating thing, broken many a bad habit child with eating, and have never caved when a child mistakes my house for a restaurant with a multiple choice buffet lunch.