Picky Eaters....

Picky eaters are the bane of many parents existence.  This is actually a new phenomenon.  Most parents weren’t given a choice in what they ate as children.  You ate what was put on the table – and you ate however much they gave you. Period.

In my opinion this has several causes.  First, there was less food and less waste.  Parents had grown up in the depression or during war time when food supplies were actually slim.  A hungry kid will always eat more “gross” food – because they are hungry and it is food.  Today we have more food and parents are busier so convenience foods are offered on a more frequent basis.  Nearly any kid will choose a “fun” happy meal with chicken nuggets, fries, soda and A TOY over steamed vegetables, grilled chicken breast, brown rice and herbal tea….seriously.

Our healthy food tasted better.  We cooked the whole chicken, not just the breast.  We used butter and really good eggs.  Who doesn’t prefer a garden raised, heirloom tomato over a mealy, pale excuse for tomato?

Our food had more nutrients and tasted better – but our parents cooked it to mush - or even (gasp) fried it.  We cooked the whole chicken, not just the breast.  We used butter and really good eggs.  Who doesn’t prefer a garden raised, heirloom tomato over a mealy, pale excuse for tomato? This is an odd thing in that it was healthier – but it was also easier to choke down, even if you didn’t like it.  Again – nearly any kid will choose a happy meal over (don’t forget the toy)… 

Today’s vegetables – even though they are less nutritious and tasteless, are harder to eat.  Today a kid has to actually chew that tasteless broccoli – making it harder to choke down....and we try to serve them weird stuff like sushi, tofu and rice milk - which I don't even want.  Some parents served us stuff like fried bologna - which was actually fresh (a very odd concept today but actually possible).  My parents definitely served chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy with really mushy green beans - but the meat was butchered locally and the green beans and potatoes were from the garden.

The “high carb” diet phenomenon didn’t help either.  It has been shown that consumption of fat or oils at the beginning of a meal will trigger the “saiety” mechanism (the message from your brain that says “I am full”) earlier in the meal.  In fact, if mostly carbohydrates are eaten – the saiety mechanism never goes off – so you keep eating – more carbs.

It is no wonder our kids are picky eaters who are fat but poorly nourished with all kinds of behavior problems, allergies and immune disorders.  Oh and don’t forget the TOY (plastic crap made in China which will eventually clog your toilet or vacuum cleaner).

Why is my kid screaming? Sensory Processing Disorder, colorblind too

I have three children - they are now old enough to wipe their own butts, tie their own shoes, wash their own private parts which has frankly freed up enough of my time so that I can work again (joy).

At one time in my life I actually had three kids under the age of two and I was way too old for it (36 when I had the last one).  I had twins - and as if that wasn't intense enough - I managed to get pregnant right after they turned one with a third.  Needless to say, even though I had traveled full-time and been a high-level manager in a very stressful job – this was the hardest thing I had ever done – relentless – and really it still hasn’t ended.  These are the things that even though someone probably told you – you can’t remember when your body is saying “Have a kid….HAVE A KID” – that is what I wanted – A KID (that would be ONE KID) but instead I got three – all at once.  I didn’t go to the grocery store without a second adult for almost five years.

All of my kids have behavioral quirks - one more so than others.

Mental Health Issues: It might be you and not “them”

Since last week was Mental Health Week – I know this not because I am self-aware but only because I have seen several postings from Nikki et al at “Moms Who Drink and Swear” – which is a nationally recognized phenomenon now - (a blog, a book and a facebook page - probably soon a cable TV show - since there is so much swearing it has to go on cable), occasionally quite nasty blog, offensive to some but always funny and true - anyway, MWADS had several blog postings on the subject of Mental Health. Anyway it made me think - about my own journey - and that of my friends and relatives - and those small-ish and irritating people who suddenly developed an opinion about the age of two.  Also - lets not forget my husband - he has issues too.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1 in 4 adults are at any one time suffering from some sort of mental health issue.  As with many government statistics – this is certainly vastly under reported as this is likely based on those who are actually diagnosed – or who answered a survey.  In fact there are certainly thousands and thousands more with issues that they either will not see a doctor about – or refuse to admit it even to themselves – even if family and friends already know.

Unfortunately in today’s judgmental society, admitting that you have a mental disorder can disrupt many facets of your life.  First, it will likely affect your friendships – once your friends know that you have a mental disorder, they can hold it against you – be patronizing – disregard what you say, etc.  It may also affect your family relationships – "if you disagree with me, it must be because you aren’t taking your meds" – "are drunk or high" or "are just plain crazy which is "bull$hit" – or "I must make sure you are limited in your exposure to the outside world and therefore you are not allowed to drive or go anywhere by yourself" - or all of the above.