Puddi has well and truly hit the terrible twos. Until then, she was a high-spirited sprite. Now she's a strong-willed little brat who has a daily battle with dinner. God knows why the first signs of rebellion always have to do with food - her brother was the same, and has only recently begun to eat like people again, otherwise he used to eat less than an ant needs to stay alive ( touch wood). So this chile, who used to gobble up her food and ask everyone who came to the park for their snacks, as if she was a starvation victim, now turns up her nose at dinner every single day. It doesn't matter what's cooked for dinner, whether it's her favourite dahi-chawal, pulao, rotis with ghee, sandwiches, parathas...everything's passe.
Of course, having been through the process once, I try and stay cool about it. But day after day of not eating dinner surely can't be good, especially when the little girl wakes up in the middle of the night complaining about stomach-ache brought on by the empty stomach. So yesterday I decided to take on the battle, little realising that this would be my Waterloo. Started off by giving her pulao and dahi. The dahi got eaten up while the pulao was stirred around the plate and smeared on the table for good measure. Got someone to take away the plate and decided to initiate Puddi into the art of time-outs. I gave her 2 minutes of time out standing at the balcony door and looking out at the dark night outside. Two minutes are up, but Puddi is quite happy to be standing there - she thinks it's a new game and says, "Puddi nahi hai. kahaan chali gayi?"
Gah! Bring her back to the table, and this time mix the dahi into the pulao, hoping that'll do the trick. Nope, not even one morsel goes through those rosebud lips. I decide on another time out, in her playroom this time, leave her in and shut the door. Peer in half a minute later to see if she's upset since I don't hear any noise, which is usually a sign of danger. Nope - she's sitting on the mattress looking around the room, cool as a cucumber. Okay, drastic measures are called for, I think and switch off the light. No reaction. I bring her out since I panic at the thought of her sitting in a dark room.
Try again - this time plain dahi-chawal. No response. Give her a time-out on the balcony this time. Put her out and watch anxiously through the window. The child doesn't move a hair, she happily stares around at the dark night sky, the tree outside, the broken flowerpot...I give up. Bring her in, clear up dinner and let her putter around. She plays happily, while I slump, defeated, arms locked behind me in Napoleonic imitation. I'll have to exile meself, methinks!
Just to give you a glimpse of how much attitude she can throw:
4 comments:
Awww BEV, she's so cute!!
She is cute !! My 19 mnth old also doesnt grasp the concept of timeout, when asked if she wants a timeout, she happily yells "Yay timeout !!" :)
She is too cute, BEV! And I can just see her giving That Look 20 years down the line, dressed in a six-yard saree this time ;) and being equally loved and feared :D.
As for food, have you tried "eat a spoon of pulao THEN you get dahi"? Dunno if it'll work though!
Thanks mummyjaan.
Kiran - giggle! These kids will end up by giving us a time-out!
Suki - Doesn't she look like a school-marm? have tried all combos of food and threats/ promises and now given up. now if she wants rice with ketchup I'm zen, as long as some food goes in!
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