Thing Two did eat last night. I guess every night needs to be pasta night. We'll see what happens tonight... I'm not sure it's so much of what we are having as it is the actual sitting down to eat. If we could just get the night terror thing to cease, his life would appear to be back on track... and we would be sleeping more.
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Now why do they call it a hunger strike? When the person does NOT eat food? Isn't that a food strike?
Anyway, Thing Two is currently on a hunger strike. Why? Who knows. It's the one little thing he can control in his life. That and pooping. Still doing that in the underwear. (sorry buddy, but I am going to tell the world about that)
Mark and I are at our wits' end as how to address this. Being a therapist and all, parents come into my office all of the time and I discuss behavioral strategies and how not to let your emotions get in the way of discipline, etc. etc. blah de blah blah. But when it comes to your own child, ugh. It becomes much more difficult, much more emotional. So tough. Especially as we look at this angry angelic boy who says, "No. I'm not eating. I hate you Mama."
So we have him sit up at the table with us, because we eat as a family, whether he eats or not. But when he starts spitting and making faces and sticking out his tongue and BOTH Thing One and Special K are busting a gut laughing which gets him going even more... well, then now he needs to go to his room. And he loses mealtime. And that means he gets nothing. Nothing. Not until breakfast.
This is not a fun natural consequence. Because I know he will want to eat and burst into tears at bedtime. And if we survive that, he will get up at midnight or 1 a.m. starvin' Marvin and be at our bedside waking us up and begging for food. So not fun for any of us.
I'm thinking it's time for a new strategy. A bit more reward-based. Like "Hey! If you sit with us and eat for a few days, we'll take you to SUCHANDSO (think of your favorite child-friendly place here) to celebrate." Which makes me say YUCK. I so don't want to get into rewards/consequences around food. I worry about long-term consequences. Yes, I go to that dark place.
Any ideas? We are on Day 2. Yes, don't worry, he IS eating something. No need for CPS yet. Yet.
