When feeding the fish, Lil Phez needs my help, at age 3 & 11/12, because it is large tank and it requires that he climb up on a dining room chair - something he knows not to do without permission/supervision. At his tender age, I must say that Lil Phez is very good at knowing what his boundaries are, i.e. what he should & shouldn't do, and he doesn't test those boundaries.
Which is why I was shocked several days ago when he reached into the fish food, grabbed one sole morsel of fish food and with what seemed like an executed decision, slowly opened his mouth and brought this new snack to his lips.
This is when with all of my parental skills, grabbed the wrist of the offending hand and, with love and concern in my voice that would make Dr. Spock proud, I asked ,"What in the world are you doing!" My startled toddler blinked, regained his composure, and replied, "I was going to eat it, Daddy" very matter-of-factly.So began the lecture. I explained why he shouldn't eat the fish food. I told him that fish food is for fish. I explained that he would grow a fin if he ate it (okay, not really). And I said all of the things one should say to their child when trying to keep them from eating pet food. He said he understood and we agreed that it would never happen again. Then came last night.
I was helping him feed the fish when he repeated the slow purposeful act of trying to partake of, what is apparently the nectar of the Gods, also known as fish food. At first I went into lecture mode but quickly caught myself. "Self", I said to myself, "This didn't work last time. Try a new approach." And so this is how I handled it:
Me: Son, didn't we agree you shouldn't eat fish food?
Lil Phez: Yes.
Me: Would you like to try one piece?
(This is when Mama Phez's right eyebrow shot up so far it practically joined her bangs.)
Lil Phez: It would be okay?
Me: I wouldn't eat the stuff but you want to try it, so go ahead...one piece, just this once.
(Lil Phez takes a piece, puts it in his mouth, and begins to chew)
Me: It's pretty gross, huh?
Lil Phez: Yeah.
Me: Yucky!
Lil Phez: Yucky!
Me: Let's go brush your teeth again and get that nasty taste out of your mouth, okay?
Lil Phez: Okay, daddy.
Next week, we try the dog food.
8 comments:
I love reading your blog because I feel like it is preparing me for little me's and little Lon's, I imagine something similar will happen to us, only, I will tell my child not to eat the fish food and Lon will encourage it.
Well, when I was about 7 years old we used to give our dog Diana doggie treats that looked and smelled *just like* chocolate kisses, so, DUH!,I tried them.
Needless to say, they didn't taste like chocolate kisses.
I think it's perfectly normal for him to want to try the pet food.
That was well handled indeed! Thank you for sharing your experimental parenting with us rookies - I'll let you know in 1 and 11/12 years how I fare with that scenario.
WAY TO GO DADDY! I am one of those parents who is all about letting them try it. In my experience, they won't believe me when I tell them it is yucky. Oh, and my kids would DEFINITELY set out to disprove my "you will grow a fin" theory. I always say, "don't give them opportunity to prove you wrong.. because they WILL". LOL.
Let us know how it goes with the dog food. eeewwwww.
Well, at least he won't be trying the fish food again!
I do completely understand....I have seen doggie cookies that look like cream filled vanilla cookies and I always have an urge to try it but so far I have been able to resist.
I liked the fin comment personally.
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