Yes, I’m One Of Those Moms Who Makes Multiple Dinners…

“What did you throw away from your lunch today,” I ask my kids as a daily ritual when they get home from school.

“I don’t like crackers anymore,” declares my daughter.

“I only threw away the carrots and banana,” my son says, like it’s no big deal.

This is a daily battle for us. Yes, I’m one of those moms who makes multiple dinners…and I would do anything to break this cycle.

Yes, I’m One Of Those Moms Who Makes Multiple Dinners…

There isn’t much more my daughter will eat. She has sworn off all sandwiches, refrigerated yogurt, and cheese. She swears ranch dressing and hummus are made of poison.

She won’t even eat granola bars with a yogurt bottom, because “yogurt is supposed to be frozen.”

My son will not eat vegetables of any kind, unless we sit with him and make him take bites. He is picky with his fruit, sometimes eating it, sometimes not. I am lucky if I get him to eat string cheese and peanut butter crackers.

I take a deep breath before I answer them.

“Mommy paid a lot of money for the food that goes in your lunch.”

Blank stares.

“There are kids that would love to get the things you have in your lunches.”

Blank stares.

“Can I have chocolate tomorrow,” my daughter inquires, ignoring my statements.

“I like popcorn. Can you make us popcorn,” my son interjects, like I haven’t said a thing.

Before you jump to conclusions, I’m not a bad mom. No, I don’t fill their lunches full of candy and treats, much to their chagrin.

I try to give them good, healthy food. It’s getting them to eat it that’s the problem. They’d just as soon be hungry all day at school then let a food they don’t like pass their lips.

I spend good money on fruits, vegetables, and healthy snacks, just to have them thrown away daily by the little tyrants who think they get to decide what should be in a lunch.

Dinner isn’t much better. There are ALWAYS tears, literal gagging, and threats of starving themselves when we make them take even ONE bite of the “gross” food on which I have spent my time and money.

I know, I know. I am going to get a barrage of comments saying I should just give them the food. If they eat, they eat. If they don’t, they don’t.

This is great parenting in theory.

I can’t, however, get past the money. If I spend my money and time on it, it better get eaten.

I can’t stomach counting up the dollars that would be thrown into the garbage or tossed down the drain.

Not to mention, two of the most stubborn beings on the planet are my children. If they decide they don’t want something, no amount of yelling, bribing, or throwing food away is going to deter them.

It is a constant game of wills, and mommy loses on the regular. I’m too tired after a long day to wait them out.

I stress every day about what is going to go in their lunch boxes. I end up making two or three separate dinners every day, so everything stays peaceful and quiet.

They are winning.

This, however, has got to stop. Mommy isn’t a short-order cook, nor is she a gas station snack rack. I don’t have the answers as to how to break this cycle, but I need some.

I just want to pop a can of soup for dinner, have everyone eat it, and call it a day. Is this wishful thinking?

Help a Momma out.