Worried about boy #1

[sherrardk]

Since starting secondary school in September boy #1's eating habits have gone to pot. He refuses breakfast (even though he has been asked what he would like and I will happily get it for him). He has school lunches (again, have said I would prefer him to have a packed lunch and I will get him what he likes) and has now started pushing his tea round and round his plate in the hope it will disappear. I try really hard to give them meals that they all like, that are healthy and don't break the bank. He looks pants too - miserable coupled with dark circles around his eyes. He is 11 1/2 and goes to bed at 9.30. When I try to talk to him about it I get the huffing and puffing, eye rolling thing. I don't want to force him to eat as that was done to me and I am a really bad eater. Any suggestion gratefully received.

[sherrardk]

I am pretty sure he's sleeping ok - he has a high sleeper thing that creaks if he moves around (I have good hearing listening out for the little ones). He's had a bad throat so maybe that's affecting him (it affects his ears too as he has glue ear but can't keep letting him have time off). Maybe the improvement in the weather and the sunshine will cheer him up.

[annie0000]

hope so Sher :o) No 2 son in my house has a terrible cough at the moment - he is keeping us all awake :o(

[sherrardk]

Such a worry though, I just want to keep him home and get him smiling, breaks my heart seeing him so miserable and looking so rubbish :(

[annie0000]

Would he maybe speak to your OH? On the eating front, what about breakfast biscuits - he could eat those while waiting on the bus? Would he maybe like to hep cook - will he be doing cooking at school, you could maybe say that you are getting him a bit of practice!

[annie0000]

There was a recipe I had in the back of a baby book and I am sure it was called something like "best chance muffins" they were full of healthy stuff and made with crushed pineapple. we used to make them when the kids were small as eldest was a poor eater and the idea was that whatever you got them to eat it would help if it was absolutely packed with healthy stuff and calories to maximise the benefit. Book is long gone and I've never been able to track down the recipe but these might fit the bill:

http://www.bbcgoodfoo...thy-breakfast-muffins

and if he's made them himself, they may get eaten.

[tinkerbell23]

Sometimes i think we all feel a bit off...

Im like that just now..had my mum dad and aunt all asking if im ok and am i worried about something etc...

Just feeling a bit "blah" thats all :0( mabye hes just having a wee off period xxxxx hope it all works out xxxxx

[sherrardk]

Himself has had a chat with the boy tonight (I asked him to) and is also the person who does breakfast. Just hope it is a phase, no one wants to see their kids miserable. He was a bad eater as a toddler but it might have been normal and we were just over-reacting with him being the eldest.

[Jemisa]

Take him to the doc's & explain your worries, ask doc if he can have a blood test just to rule out the possibility of him having a bug or perhaps aneamic.

jem

[karenmac60]

Re the dark circles - is he naturally pale? My daughter has really fair skin (you can see the blue veins!) and I did notice when she got to maybe 11 or 12 that she looked deathly sometimes, especially around this time of year. Partly since she doesn't 'go out to play' anymore and partly because the weather is so mince she won't really go out apart from going to and from school/friends houses etc.

[sherrardk]

Thanks all, I will give it a couple of days and see how he goes, if things don't improve I will take him to the docs. He knows he can't have any more time off (I have been too soft with him) so maybe his throat is worse than I thought (or maybe he is feeling a bit hard done by).

[China Doll]

To back up what karen says, I am also very pale and people often think I'm ill around this time of year as a result! If I have even one bad nights sleep I look quite dark around the eyes too.

[annie0000]

maybe it hurts when he eats....

[sherrardk]

Hi China, can see that from your avatar.

[China Doll]

It'sa good look for me...

[Smowball]

sherrardk - I have had exactly the same problem with my son since he also started secondary school in September, with the addition of that he actually was either being sick or felt sick. That has now passed, but he still has not eaten breakfast since September on a single school day, though he will eat it at the weekend! I was getting ,myself in such a state about it, but have now given up. Some days he doesnt even have lunch as he says the queue in the canteen is far too long. I have bought things he likes, things he asks for but when it comes to the morning he changes his mind and wont eat them. Short of force feeding him I have accepted that he wont eat breakfat any more.

[tinkerbell23]

Hope things are improving sherr xx

[sherrardk]

Thanks Tink - he cheered up a bit over the weekend and his eating has improved slightly. He gets the honour of having his breakfast (just a piece of toast, but it's a start) in the living room in peace which seems to be helping. x