Repelling Rears

Please tell me I'm not the only one who has felt the desire to do this and actually followed through with it.

Background: My two older children, and soon to be youngest, have severe problems with staying in their seats while eating.  If I say "sit down" one time while they attempt to eat a puny half sandwich, I say it AT LEAST 30 times.  I get tired of hearing myself say it, so I know they do also.  After the first time, I've turned into Charlie Brown's teacher.  Waah waah waah waah waah.  They are unable to decipher any words coming out of my mouth.

The good news is there is a scientific phenomenon occurring in our dining room and I think I've figured it out.  Their little behinds react to the flat chair surfaces like similar magnetic ends by repelling each other.  See?

 

Child's rear end                        The chair         

See how that works?  (You can thank me later for the illustration.  I know middle school science class was long enough ago for us all to appreciate a little picture reminder).  I'm pretty sure I just proved that they're NOT CAPABLE of sitting for too long for fear of hovering OFF THEIR CHAIR.

Well yeah, that's gotta be it!

So, my answer to the repelling problem is: dining room chair seat belts.

a.k.a.: Daddy's belts

Here's what I do that I need help knowing other loving, caring and considerate mothers have done also.  BEFORE I've asked less than a dozen times for them to sit down, BEFORE I'm ready to pull my hair out, I'll ask the children if I need to go get the belts and they start screaming.  Oh stop it!  Not like that!  They're screaming out of sheer joy and excitement.  They love the seat belt idea!

My children are weird.  Here's the proof.

Even though it would be fairly easy for them to get out of, I really do think the restriction helps steer their little bodies to be still for a micro-second.

And keeps Mommy happy. ier.

  

Brandon, is just along for the entertainment.  He still sits in the high chair, thank goodness, but I can see his wandering wings starting to spread.

 

I'd like to take this time to thank Mrs. Brydon, my 9th grade science teacher who probably, maybe, heck I don't know, taught me about magnetic attractions and repulsions.  Because of you Mrs. Brydon, I was able to figure out the annoying scientific-related phenomenon occurring in our dining room, solve the little problem and retain the shreds of sanity I believe I have left.

Typical morning table

A typical/random day of kid's eating.  Pictures of precious memories I don't want to forget.

These were a couple of months ago, well like January really.  Now, the scene is more like Brandon shoveling whatever I've put in front of him, while the other two swear after 2 bites they're full.

 
The scene location has changed a little bit also.  Now, the older 2 are sitting at the little table and Brandon is standing next to them, terrorizing the food on their plates.  They've figured out how to sit at the little table, place their plates on the bigger table and eat while strategically keeping their food away from the "tosser."

His hair doesn't stick up as much anymore.  I even took him to a barber and told the man to "take a little off the top", thinking that might make it stick back up again.  Didn't.  I do everything I can to encourage it.  I'm afraid it's not going back up on it's own.

Sweet, sweet memories.

Boys and eating - Chapter 2

Somebody is liking him some solid foods.

Jim seems to think he's the best eater out of the three.

 

I KNOW he's the best sleeper out of the three.

The Phantom Phood Phanatic

This life of raising boys is REALLY different.  One area I've had a hard time adjusting to is the insatiable desire to constantly be eating.  We've done a fairly good job of exposing our kids to different foods, expecting them to try new things, (even if it's just one bite) and encouraging them to sit their wiggly little toddler behinds in the chair when it is eating time.  So when I put food in front of the oldest son, watch him eat a descent amount, but not finish off what I put in front of him, and then hear him ask for more food within 5 minutes, I get a little frustrated.

He is a grazer.  I've been known to set his unfinished plate on the counter for another hour or so and sneak forkfuls of food in his mouth as he's passing.  He barely even knows I'm doing it, really.  He's usually in mid-sentence or asking a question and I'll say, "Take this bite and I'll answer you." :)  Sly Mom trick #34.

So when I am out of commission for about 10 minutes (I must shower every now and then), and Nathan is left free roaming, it's a crap shoot as to what could possibly happen in or to the house.  One fine day, I cautiously stepped out of the shower, listened intently, and there was          S i l e n c e

A quick survey of his favorite and safe spots yielded no 3 year olds.  I finally tracked him down, playing nicely with his Monster trucks in his room.  Whoo!  That was a close one.

But not so fast there, el mommo.  Mommy-radar still wasn't clicking a good signal so I went to go investigate and found this...

After close inspection, this is the report of his well-thought-out actions.  The box of Nilla wafers was unopened.  He must have had trouble opening the bag inside so he found the scissors, which were in the pencil box, which was in the top drawer of the bar/cabinet shown in the top left of the picture.  He carefully cut open the bag, helped himself, and left the evidence for his mother to find.

How can I get mad at this?  Seriously!  He was eager to pick up the cookies and put it all away, with my gentle encouragement.  I remember him eating a good breakfast, though.  So that's why this boys-constantly-eating thing is tough for me.

Oh well.  I'll do my best to not stunt his growth by withholding junk food for him to snack on.  Will he ever notice the bananas on the counter that are easy to open?

Spaghetti face

Triple Threat had spaghetti for the first time today. After supper, I started with a pre-wash in the kitchen sink, but it was easier to just leave him there for the whole sha-bang.