http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/kellimwheeler/8692 Someone please tell me – When did I become a short order cook?   At what point did I begin substituting quesadillas for enchiladas, instant mashed potatoes for baked potatoes, and buttered noodles and cheese for WORLD FAMOUS HOMEMADE spaghetti meat sauce for people under five feet tall?   Why have applesauce and sugar-free Jell-o replaced salad and mixed vegetables as a side dish?   Have I really become the It’s Not Worth Fighting About spineless caricature of myself staring back at me in the mirror?   Where is that woman who swore her kids would eat whatever was put in front of them even if they had to sit crying in their green beans all night?   Come on! I’m not talking lima beans and brussels sprouts, lintel bean soup and carrot salad (carrots, raisins and mayonnaise, oh my!) that I used to have to choke down under threat of no dessert.   It’s a turkey burger for goodness sakes! You smother that thing in ketchup like everything else and you’re good to go. Pretend it’s in a nugget form and wolf it down.   Fine. I’ve got a hot dog on the stove.   ☺        ☺        ☺   Not since my newborn/Groundhog Day times of prepare breakfast, feed breakfast, clean-up breakfast, rinse off baby, immediately repeat for lunch and dinner have I so thoroughly hated the question, “What’s for dinner?”   Some days it is the straw that breaks the mommy’s back.   Especially after all you’ve done for your family that day has left you so spent, you don’t have one brain molecule left to figure out what to do with that jar of pickles, three flour tortillas and one hard boiled egg left in the fridge.   Nothing is worse than facing a whining, hungry child armed to shoot down whatever meal pops out of your mouth with, “Eww. Not that again.”   But actually, worse I think, is when you’ve carefully prepared, lovingly crafted, even blew kisses over the fabulously healthy AND delicious meal you skipped watching Oprah to make for your family and a little pipsqueak at the table has the nerve to say, “This smells funny. Can I have chicken nuggets instead?”   As if a nugget of remnant chicken parts could replace my finely crafted offering of sustenance.   No. It’s time to take a stand. Go ahead and take a big gulp of milk and wash it down buddy, unless you want to be sitting over a cold dinner all alone with the sound of the dishwasher in the background and the short order cook – I mean Mommy – on strike. Someone please tell me – When did I become a short order cook?   At what point did I begin substituting quesadillas for enchiladas, instant mashed potatoes for baked potatoes, and buttered noodles and cheese for WORLD FAMOUS HOMEMADE spaghetti meat sauce for people under five feet tall?   Why have applesauce and sugar-free Jell-o replaced salad and mixed vegetables as a side dish?   Have I really become the It’s Not Worth Fighting About spineless caricature of myself staring back at me in the mirror?   Where is that woman who swore her kids would eat whatever was put in front of them even if they had to sit crying in their green beans all night?   Come on! I’m not talking lima beans and brussels sprouts, lintel bean soup and carrot salad (carrots, raisins and mayonnaise, oh my!) that I used to have to choke down under threat of no dessert.   It’s a turkey burger for goodness sakes! You smother that thing in ketchup like everything else and you’re good to go. Pretend it’s in a nugget form and wolf it down.   Fine. I’ve got a hot dog on the stove.   ☺        ☺        ☺   Not since my newborn/Groundhog Day times of prepare breakfast, feed breakfast, clean-up breakfast, rinse off baby, immediately repeat for lunch and dinner have I so thoroughly hated the question, “What’s for dinner?”   Some days it is the straw that breaks the mommy’s back.   Especially after all you’ve done for your family that day has left you so spent, you don’t have one brain molecule left to figure out what to do with that jar of pickles, three flour tortillas and one hard boiled egg left in the fridge.   Nothing is worse than facing a whining, hungry child armed to shoot down whatever meal pops out of your mouth with, “Eww. Not that again.”   But actually, worse I think, is when you’ve carefully prepared, lovingly crafted, even blew kisses over the fabulously healthy AND delicious meal you skipped watching Oprah to make for your family and a little pipsqueak at the table has the nerve to say, “This smells funny. Can I have chicken nuggets instead?”   As if a nugget of remnant chicken parts could replace my finely crafted offering of sustenance.   No. It’s time to take a stand. Go ahead and take a big gulp of milk and wash it down buddy, unless you want to be sitting over a cold dinner all alone with the sound of the dishwasher in the background and the short order cook – I mean Mommy – on strike. en-us We've had a deal in our house since my son was about 3 (ok, maybe 4). If you don't like what I made you don't have to eat it, BUT you have to make yourself (the key word there is YOURSELF) a healthy substitute (usually PB&J w/ a banana). This works wonders and I'm not a short order cook. Luckily hubby doesn't care and will eat pretty much anything. My son only uses this option occasionally. I often found that the more he helps out in the kitchen MAKING the food, the more likely he is to eat it well. A little food for thought for you there. (Yes, pun intended) http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/kellimwheeler/8692/#c_79567 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/kellimwheeler/8692/#c_79567 We've had a deal in our house since my son was about 3 (ok, maybe 4). If you don't like what I made you don't have to eat it, BUT you have to make yourself (the key word there is YOURSELF) a healthy substitute (usually PB&J w/ a banana). This works wonders and I'm not a short order cook. Luckily hubby doesn't care and will eat pretty much anything. My son only uses this option occasionally. I often found that the more he helps out in the kitchen MAKING the food, the more likely he is to eat it well. A little food for thought for you there. (Yes, pun intended) Your post was hilarious! My daughter is just staring to develop her own tastes and there are things she definitely does not enjoy. We also always have a back-up PB & J sandwich in the wings in case she's not digging what we're eating, but I do make it for her (for now at least...she's not 2 yet.) I hope that she stays as open to eating our food as she is now because I cannot imagine dealing with what you're going through right now. That sounds ridiculous. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/kellimwheeler/8692/#c_79576 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/kellimwheeler/8692/#c_79576 Your post was hilarious! My daughter is just staring to develop her own tastes and there are things she definitely does not enjoy. We also always have a back-up PB & J sandwich in the wings in case she's not digging what we're eating, but I do make it for her (for now at least...she's not 2 yet.) I hope that she stays as open to eating our food as she is now because I cannot imagine dealing with what you're going through right now. That sounds ridiculous. Oh, but that's how it all started -- the ol' just-for-now fall back. I think last year I told my son, "When you're seven, THEN you are old enough to eat what's in front of you." I think we've negotiated nine now. And actually Creatress, I have had the kids help make dinner and you're right, that does help a lot. When you gush about how wonderful the dinner they made is, it's amazing how much easier it goes down. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/kellimwheeler/8692/#c_79579 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/kellimwheeler/8692/#c_79579 Oh, but that's how it all started -- the ol' just-for-now fall back. I think last year I told my son, "When you're seven, THEN you are old enough to eat what's in front of you." I think we've negotiated nine now. And actually Creatress, I have had the kids help make dinner and you're right, that does help a lot. When you gush about how wonderful the dinner they made is, it's amazing how much easier it goes down.