Mac-n-Cheese

Last night I didn't go to bed until about 11:30. Unfortunately, neither did Trevin. He can have a bit of a stubborn streak (I'm sure he gets it from his Daddy...wink, wink). For some strange reason he decided that he no longer likes Mac-n-Cheese. It's a kid standard and has always been the go-to meal in our house. Mac-n-Cheese is a food group, right? Anyway, Trevin has always claimed to dislike cheese. "Trevin's don't like cheese" is a common phrase. But this distaste has never caused a problem with the orange, cheesy goodness. Last night, however, was different. Well, not SO different, but different.

You see, Trevin often chooses not to eat his dinner. Although I always expect him to eat it at some point, I've never forced him to stay up all night to eat it. In the past I've let him go to bed and then he has whatever disgusting meal he refused to eat last night for breakfast. And lunch. And so it goes until he actually eats it. Usually it's gone by breakfast and at minimum he's so hungry by the next lunch that it disappears quickly. I changed my strategy.

I had actually read Matthew 5:37 the day before and it resonated with the mommy in me.

Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No';

anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

As Trevin sat at the dinner table refusing to eat, it hit me. If I let him eat his food the next day then I really wasn't following through with my expectations. By saving his food for breakfast, I was letting him finish the meal on his terms. I expect dinner to be eaten at dinner. I said eat your dinner, so eat it now. Not after a restful night's sleep, not after running errands with me, not only once you're so hungry you have no other choice. Yes, you'll eat dinner and yes, you'll eat it now. My yes means yes!

All that to say, it took him 5 1/2 hours at the table but he finally finished his processed cheese pasta. It wasn't fun (for ANYONE!) and he was exhausted today. BUT tonight he ate every bite of his dinner and even tasted a new food without any whining! Stay tuned to hear how long his good attitude lasts!