Am I being unreasonable?

[Barmaid]

OK, I have NO experience of children. None, nada, zilch. I am probably the worst person in the world to be left in charge of a child. I know this.

Anyway, the kids are here tonight. The boy has severe learning difficulties and will only eat pizza or chips. I cooked pizza - apparently it is "too yellow" and he would rather eat chocolate buttons. I am now cooking chips.

For the rest of us, I have cooked chicken in sauce with mashed potatoes (at the daughter's request) and veg. She is sitting there, feeding one pea a time into her mouth with her top lip curled up in disgust. "Is it OK, daughter?" I ask. "S'ok" she snarls. She has been an hour eating a plate of food and I have offered to heat it up on numerous occasions. Her friend called and I refused to let her speak to her until she had finished her dinner. I have turned the TV off because she is more interested in the damn telly than her dinner. I have also told her no dessert unless she eats her main course. Now I am the *** from hell and she hates me and I am not her mum and I am horrible. Well For Funks Sake, I know I am not her bloody mother, but I refuse to send good food to waste because she can't be arsed to eat what I cook. Every time I cook we have this battle. I end up cooking once and then cooking again. If dad cooks its fine. I'll be buggered if I am doing it again tonight - I have work to do. I know I am being damn unreasonable, but sometimes, my patience is really pushed to the limit.

Not really a question just a rant at feeling completely ineffectual at a situation that I just don't know how to deal with.

[bednobs]

that's not unreasonable!

[ummmm]

You're not being unreasonable. I wouldn't put up with that.

How old is she again?

[logic]

Are you a satisfactory cook,?

i mean to say, without actually saying it, is it edible,?

[ummmm]

Oh I think BM is very capable...going by her menus :-)

[craft1948]

I'd let the little bugger starve (the daughter that is)..........she'd soon eat what was put in front of her when hungry enough.....

[logic]

make a huge bowl of trifle, then slam her head in it.

[ummmm]

I just wouldn't cook for her...no matter what I was cooking.

[leelapops]

Barmaid you have been very patient. I think your approach is the right one-you have accommodated them as much as possible; sounds like the girl is being childish and princess-y just to be awkward. You are doing really well-don't back down and keep those boundaries you've put up so well. She needs to know you're in charge, and that it's your food or no food!

[Barmaid]

logic, I am loving that as a suggestion.

Craft, I am inclined to agree. She is now sitting in the corner of the living room crying because I told her off and her dad backed me up.

Ummmm, thank you. I have actually dumbed down my menus on children's night to make it plain and simple and still it isn't right.

btw, the chips for the little boy are not good enough - they are not "Macdonald's" sodding chips.

[mccfluff]

i feel for your bm, one of my strict rules is no men with kids, means at my age i end up with gays or weirdos so i prefer to stay single but faced with what your going through urghhhh

one thought though get them to cok dinner instead - i actually mean that sensibly, youknow encourage them to cook that sort of thing,, mind you kids with knives - forget it!

good luck take the cats retreat to bedroom with wine and lock door

[ummmm]

Is she old enough to cook herself?

[sara3]

blimey, how old is she??

well she's behaving like a 3 year old so treat her like one. tell her she has 5 minutes left to eat, and then take it away. and then make sure no other food is available to her until the next meal time.

if she decides she's hungry at some stage it's up to you whether you produce her plate again, or tell her it's too late. eating a meal shouldn't take the whole evening.

[craft1948]

next time they come round don't bother cooking..........send the BF for a MacDonald's family meal whilst you get p!ssed in the corner........

[logic]

LOve that one UMMMM, cook herself,

I have visions of her lighting the gas ,then jumping into the pan.

[sara3]

awfypanlaofy, considering your recent post, don't you think you might take the time to chill a bit?

[sara3]

I'd never have guessed.... !