Ok, bad mommy I know... but here goes. I have a six year old and a 19 month old. They are starving when I get them home from school at around 530ish. I need to get dinner, be it cooking or take out, I need to put it all together. So while I'm doing that, I will give them a snack. Usually a small bowl of either 'gold fish' or crackers, something like that... On the weekends, I'll let them have a pop tart (1/2 for the little one) so that when dinners ready, neither one is hungry. My 19 mo. will stand and scream and cry until I'm insane and give him a bowl of chips. I'm trying to get dinner for all of us. Now, my husband says I have to stop giving the kids snacks, because they aren't eating their dinner when we sit down to eat. I've tried carrots and 'healthier' snacks to no avail. I want them to eat dinner. Oh bad Mommy, bad mommy... I need to break the cycle, but I'm going to go thru hedoublel to do aren't I. Any advice?? :banghead:

Ok, bad mommy I know... but here goes. I have a six year old and a 19 month old. They are starving when I get them home from school at around 530ish. I need to get dinner, be it cooking or take out, I need to put it all together. So while I'm doing that, I will give them a snack. Usually a small bowl of either 'gold fish' or crackers, something like that... On the weekends, I'll let them have a pop tart (1/2 for the little one) so that when dinners ready, neither one is hungry. My 19 mo. will stand and scream and cry until I'm insane and give him a bowl of chips. I'm trying to get dinner for all of us. Now, my husband says I have to stop giving the kids snacks, because they aren't eating their dinner when we sit down to eat. I've tried carrots and 'healthier' snacks to no avail. I want them to eat dinner. Oh bad Mommy, bad mommy... I need to break the cycle, but I'm going to go thru hedoublel to do aren't I. Any advice?? :banghead:

Since by your own admission you have tried the carrot and celery sticks and the kids won't eat them, they are not that hungry.

Most importantly, you have to stop guilting yourself into giving them junky snacks right before dinner. THESE KIDS ARE WORKING YOU OVER!!! :lol: If they really are starving, they will eat a few carrots or red/yellow bell pepper strips, raisins, apple slices, etc. If they choose not to eat those things, they can wait for dinner and eat what's on the table. JMHO! Good luck to you!

i don't think you're a bad mom. i do the same thing and i don't let it bother me. my kids eat lunch at 11:30am at daycare. we get home about 4pm and they are hungry! i give them whatever, usually graham crackers, golfish, wheat thins, apple etc. while i make dinner.

however, they still eat like horses. in your case i'd probably still give them a little something, just cut it back a bit and see if they eat more at dinner. if you go cold turkey you're probably going to get a freakout :lol:

I agree with Kim - try giving them a little less and see if that makes a difference.

Since by your own admission you have tried the carrot and celery sticks and the kids won't eat them, they are not that hungry.

Most importantly, you have to stop guilting yourself into giving them junky snacks right before dinner. THESE KIDS ARE WORKING YOU OVER!!! :lol: If they really are starving, they will eat a few carrots or red/yellow bell pepper strips, raisins, apple slices, etc. If they choose not to eat those things, they can wait for dinner and eat what's on the table. JMHO! Good luck to you!
Exactly! I would have healthier options available for that time. Also, I would recommend a crockpot, or having your meal already prepared so you can cook it on the stovetop or oven and just keep it in the fridge so you aren't worrying about preparing your meal when you get home.

Why not give something "healthier" and more substantial - like cereal or fruit and cheese. That way, if they don't eat dinner, you don't have to worry about it, because they've had a decent "meal". You also get some peace to prepare the meal. I deal with the same conundrum every day even though I'm a SAHM because DH doesn't get home until 6.

Thank you everyone! I know what I have to do. I'm just dreading the temper tantrums that come with it. Both of my children have tempers like their father. 'fly off the handle' tempers, but I've got to get them eating healthier. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! I feel like I've got a support group!:grouphugg:

THESE KIDS ARE WORKING YOU OVER!!! :lol:

I KNOW (whiny voice!) I can't believe I've let it get this far! I think it's a lot of guilt about going back to work, that I let them get away with stuff. I loved being a SAHM, but alas my husband felt it was time for me to work again. (like I didn't before, Oh well, different thread!!!) Thank you for your thoughts!!!

We give the kids veggies and fruit (what we are eating as sides) while we cook dinner. So tonight we had apple slices and frozen peas...we gave the kids each a bowl of peas and half an apple while we made chicken and potatos. Janelle will eat it (but she won't eat the meat with dinner), Kincaid is about 50/50 now...he will always eat peaches, everything else is hit or miss. But, I figure if he was truly starving he would eat whatever is there...

We have to feed our daughter when we get home also. At school she eats lunch between 10:30 - 11 w/ a snack at about 2, so she is hungry! We do try to do something halfway decent, graham cracker, cheese, pear, etc. We never sit down for a meal all together, but I do try. Sometimes she is not hungry when we finally have dinner ready but I really don't sweat it at this age. Plus, we just have to do what we can do and this works best for us.