Mother-In-Law Throws Away Meals Her Granddaughter Brings That Her Dad Made Using Her Late Mom’s Recipes, Family Feud Ensues
How do you recover from losing a significant other? If you’re a mature adult, you probably have some idea on how to do that. But what do you do if there’s a kid involved? How do you help your offspring deal with the loss of a parent?
While there are many ways to do it, this parent took it to the next level, and everything was fine and dandy until the in-laws got involved and started deconstructing the healing process.
More info: Reddit
Having a picky eater in the family sounds like a minor challenge, but family can make it worse
Image credits: Cory Doctorow
So, Reddit user u/0gravity0respect is a widower and also a father of a lovely 6-year-old daughter. Having recently lost a mother, and being a picky eater, the daughter does make meal time a bit difficult. But the dad is taking it like a champ and is actually trying to learn all the recipes his wife used to prepare. Yes, this does mean that she doesn’t really eat anything other what her mom used to make.
As you would have expected, the in-laws, the wife’s biological parents, got involved and started helping out by taking care of the kid while the dad gets some work done and whatnot. So, he would drop his daughter off at the in-laws’, along with all of the meals he prepared for her.
This dad asked internauts to find out if he was wrong to stop dropping off his 6-year-old at the in-laws’ after they had deliberately begun throwing out her food
Image credits: 0gravity0respect
ADVERTISEMENTThe in-laws, specifically, the mother, wasn’t all too happy about this as she thought the kid needs to start eating more varied food. The dad explained that he is painstakingly learning new dishes as fast as he can to expand the assortment to compensate for it.
But, one day, the dad found out that the mother in law had taken on a more active approach and effectively begun throwing away all of the food the daughter had with her after getting dropped off at their house. And since she simply refuses to eat whatever the mother in law offers her, she ends up settling for snacks and that just that.
Image credits: 0gravity0respect
So, of course the dad is furious about it, not only because perfectly good food is being thrown out into the trash—food that he worked hard to provide—but also because this is anything but productive in helping the 6-year-old.
In response to this, he decided that they’re not fit for taking care of the kid, and instead turned to his sister to look after her while he works. The in-laws were, of course, deeply offended by this, saying he overreacted and took a very cruel step.
The father-in-law did suggest backing away from his decision and continuing bringing the daughter over—he would convince the Mrs to back away with her decisions as well—but the dad wasn’t having any of it. And so he turned to the AITA community for some perspective on who’s wrong here.
The community ruled that the dad is not the a-hole, and in fact rallied behind him, showing him support and giving advice
ADVERTISEMENTOver 18,300 upvotes and 90 plus Reddit awards later, the internet ruled that the dad is by no means wrong here, pointing fingers at the mother-in-law who was the cruel one.
Some gave a spot-on remark that you won’t fix picky eating by letting a kid starve, and that might beget even more problems, like eating disorders. Others were baffled by the fact that she was throwing away perfectly good food, let alone dishes of sentimental value.
ADVERTISEMENTYet others expressed their support for the dad, saying he’s doing more than an amazing job in taking care of a kid who has been going through a lot as it is, and gave some suggestions on how to help (or at least try) diversify the food.
ADVERTISEMENTYou can read the whole post in context here. But before you run off, we have other Am I The A-Hole posts here, and you are always welcome to share your thoughts on these situations in the comment section below!
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Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.
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Robertas Lisickis
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Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.
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I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.
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Monika Pašukonytė
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I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.
It seems like Dad and Daughter have worked out an arrangement where she eats what he makes and they both get to bond over remembering a loved one. I don't see how interfering with that can possibly be helpful. They are both sad and need comfort.
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But when she's not at home, and not with her dad, she can eat other things and become more resilient. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about having safe moments and bonding. But food should also be considered functional to not develop a strange relationship with it. When she's outside her home, she does not need comfort food accompanying her her whole life. I do also think that the grandparents should provide her with some of the foods she does love, but also take the opportunity of different surroundings to try new things. All these people seem like stubborn idiots only seeing one correct way. Dad is not doing what's best for his kid, grandparents aren't either.
Load More Replies...The OP said he's trying to cook new dishes, have you missed that? They didn't mention the daughter would only eat one single dish either so I assume she has a varied diet. I don't have children but from what I had read so far there are many children that refuse to eat anything but chicken nuggets for weeks on end (and snacks of course) and it's ok, because eating the same thing (I'm pretty sure some stuff is always snuck in somehow) for a while is better than starve your child or force them to eat what they hate. I was one of those that was forced and I grew up to be a picky eater and I'd rather go hungry than eat something I hate (mostly my childhood dishes). I have an unhealthy relationship with food BECAUSE I was forced.
Ad a person who grew up with an eating disorder, you have no right to instill your path to "recovery". Due to bullying and being awkward and introverted, there were years in grade school where I only ate soup. Then I moved on to cheese sandwiches. Eventually I grew out of them and moved on to eating variety of foods. This child is suffering a completely different type of trauma and you are being as inconsequential about it as her grandmother. You are wrong.
This Dad is doing everything correctly for his daughter. The girl is 6 years old, she can't grasp what is happening in her little world. Her Dad is amazing and more men should be so. Time will help the girl and she will eventually be open to other people's foods but for now this is what she needs and no harm in that! The grandparents are the idiots and apparently you are as well.
You're laying it on thick Rissie. My goodness, the dad is doing everything right yet you're going on as if he isn't.
Rissie clearly you do not understand the effort the single dad is putting in and the difficulty in raising a picky eater. Being a picky eater and raising one. I know that they do not magically decided to like other food even when they are hungry. Short of threats and severaly starving them, it may be impossible to even get them to take a bite. Trust me. They will still hate those food and you just cause them to have mental resentment. Its not only the taste. Its the smell and texture. Certain food just does not appeal to certain people immediately. It takes time and effort to coerce them to try and enjoy new things.
Step 1: survive life-shattering event in whatever way possible. Step 326: introduce new foods to the small child whose world has been shattered and put back together with whatever tape and bubble gum you had on hand.
Exactly. As much as I would be a very strict mother and I dont believe in spoiling children she just lost her mother. What kind of monster does not feel pity for that poor child? She will elarn to eat more eventually. But now she needs to heal.
Load More Replies...Honestly, though, who cares if she only eats those meals for the rest of her life? It's still food, and it didn't sound like the meals were unhealthy, and the other parent made them ahead of time, so it's even easier. The whole thing from the MIL is a ridiculous hill to die on.
I agree if we're talking about the dad. There other things to be concerned about.
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It's not about the meals, it's about the attitude. If solace is found in food in a world that is so abundant in it, it can create some crazy realities for a person. Whether it be overeating, boulimia, anorexia. Feelings outside of hunger should not become attached to food. Picky eaters are prone to that, so being more careful is very important for future physical health. It really is no joke. And people who have not experienced it, what happens when it does get skewed do not get a say in this. Both grandparents and dad need to grow the f**k up for the sake of this kiddo.
You're putting a lot of" ifs" on this situation. You don't need to address a problem that doesn't exist. Coping with death by bonding over food isn't dangerous. What is dangerous is assuming that you need to punish a grief-coping child, because *other people* have drasticly unhealthy relationships with food.
I'm with you - neurotypical kids who just like manipulating mom and dad can just miss a meal if they want to be picky, but if a kid's world is out of control and the one thing they feel like they can control is the food they put in their mouth, then it is time for the adults to show some grace and flexibility, even if they also just lost their daughter.
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You would be? If you "would be" you have no clue what you "would be".
@Rissie: You don't need to be a parent to have an opinion or an idea of what you would do given a set of circumstances. Again, for those in the back: you do NOT need to be a parent to have an opinion. If you did, I'd also require that you keep your trap shut about movies and songs and sports unless you actually have ever made a movie, released music as a global icon, (includes Bieber haters as well as those who have never written a symphony) or played in a professional sports league. It's the same thing.
But until you ARE a parent, you have no idea how you will actually handle a situation. It's great to say that you know, but you really don't.
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You can't predict what kind of parent you'll be until you have children. Everyone thinks they'll be a certain way and everyone changes after they actually have a kid.
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Yeah, still there's a more subtle approach. You don't want to make food the comfort blanket to run to. Believe you me. Dad should not prepare meals for outside the home like that, grand parents should provide meals that resemble it and still show there is other foods too to try. And because it's not at home, there's an opportunity to keep the relationship with food a healthy one without any force. Picky eaters are prone to developing a very unhealthy stance towards food, whether it becomes overeating or "undereating" for the lack of a good word in my brain right now. You want to be very, very careful with that. Don't make it bigger, don't force anything, always keep an open mind. All these people seem very stubborn and dad should not project his own grieving process upon his child.
Rissie, you're assuming and saying things that are not even happening. Yikes! Just yikes!
As a 65-year-old picky eater, what I do know is that picky eaters tend to be super-smellers and/or super-tasters (I’m both), which sounds like it would be good thing but isn’t. What it means is that what you taste as a delicious serving of brussel sprouts to me smells and tastes something that came out of a garbage can and will likely make me vomit. My mother always made me, my sister and brothers take a small helping of things we didn’t like with the idea that it would help us avoid awkward situations when we were guests somewhere, which sounds like a great idea in theory, but once I was on my own, I decided I would never again eat anything I don’t like. I understand worrying about nutritional needs, but would highly recommend giving your children fortified vitamins rather than forcing them to eat foods they don’t like. They may find later on in life that they’re willing to give something a go if they weren’t *forced* to eat it as a child.
I work with grown men who still eat nothing but poptarts and pbj sandwiches. It is important to expand kids pallettes. You never know what they'll like. If they find that they absolutely abhor brussel sprouts, well, they never have to try brussel sprouts made that way again, but if they're made completely differently, a bite to try it won't kill them. However, right after a kids mom dies is truly the worst possible time to be doing this.
If you teach a child how to have a healthy relationship with food, they'll naturally be more adventurous later. Some kids just take longer to get to that point.
There is a reason I am willing to try new things. My mother never forced us to eat what we didn't like and gave us vitamins for the nutrients we didn't get from what we did like.
58 year old ultra picky eater here. If it looks wrong, smells wrong, tastes wrong, feels wrong, SOUNDS wrong--I can't eat it. I can't have my food touch each other too. I can't have sauces or gravies on my food; they have to be on the side and then MAYBE I will try them. I can't eat food that's all mixed together--no salads, casseroles, or stews for me. There's several kinds of conditions or food disorders that I have, but while they may ease somewhat into adulthood, they don't go away. Forcing someone to eat something they JUST CAN'T eat let alone touch or be in the same room with, is cruel and unhelpful. They may ease somewhat as one gets older (and a person's senses dull) but they never truly go away.
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Stews and casserole and such are like refurbished barf for a meal I can do that either
You are both sensitive. My granddaughter is too. Very much. Strict rules only gives eating disorders... poor child...
Ugh yes. Texture, residue of other food (for example: I can taste the residue the cucumber restaurants give you leaves on food), taste, smell…
I’ve always been called crazy for this exact thing! People who tell you just to take it off and they think that solves the problem
I grew up with severe adrenal fatigue, which meant food often overwhelmed my senses. Sometimes, I would be starving but would have very little appetite. What I have learned is that it doesn't matter so much what you eat. It's that you EAT. If the only thing you can convince yourself to eat is something unhealthy, or it's the same thing you've eaten every day that week, it's better than eating nothing at all.
Ditto. I've got a variety of issues, and that's one of them. I'm thankful that my parents never forced me to eat anything I didn't want to. Which is why I've been a vegetarian since I was around 5 years old in a family of omnivores. I don't think people understand how frustrating it can be to be a super-taster.
As a 6 yo I hated almost every vegetable. But I was "forced" to eat in a way that I wasn't even aware that I was forced. I could always leave part of the portion and dad would show me which part I had to eat and which part was optional. It was a psychological strategy. I almost always had something left on my plate yet still got all my nutritions and never felt "forced" because I didn't have to eat it all. I benefit from it today because even my most hated veggie (brussel sprouts) is something I LOVE today. I could eat a whole plate of them without anything on the side. I prefer any veggie over meat, fish, potatoes, rice or pasta and only eat combinations because of the nutritional value but I could live on veggies alone despite my hate as a kid. But the trick for me was that I got forced without realizing that I got forced. And believe me, just because I eat anything doesn't mean I'm not what you call a "super-taster". I taste difference in good or poor quality ingredients.
I'm glad you like them now! I think there's the difference between psychological and physiological barriers. Physiologically for example, I can be grossed out by texture or appearance of food and not want to try it. You're dad's strategy would probably be helpful for that! Physiologically, I tasted "bitter" EXTREMELY strongly as a kid, to the point that the mildest, youngest lettuce was so bitter it made me nauseous. It still tastes bitter today, but not quite to the same overwhelming degree--I can't imagine I'll ever enjoy salad, but a few pieces of lettuce in a sandwich are nice.
As an example now of fine tasting, there's a whole world of difference between a bread prepared with sugar, butter and a shitload of additives and flour with zero fibers or a bread that has the less processed flour so still with nutritious fibers (whole grain) with only water and yeast and a tiny pinch of salt. You make me happier with the latter than the heavily processed sugared bread. There's a huge difference in taste between a piece of meat from a cow that had a good quality of life and died painless and that of a cow that had poor quality of life and had stress and pain at the end. I taste that difference. I taste the difference between wines and just because I appreciate both Dornfelder and Lambrusco doesn't mean that I don't taste difference and don't have a favorite (a good Merlot). So yes, I am a super-taster. But I am not picky. Super-taster and picky aren't equal.
Smeller here, and it's awful when people will fuss ta me. I'm vegetarian b/c animal fat smells especially get to me ----- Iand brussel sprouts (smells like compost!)
I was forced to sit in front of a tuna fish sandwich until my mom came to pick me up from daycare. I did try it, didn't like it. This was over 35 years ago, and I still remember the smell, the taste, the texture, the bits of celery. I can't even let mayo touch my hand, let alone my food. Encouraging trying things as kids grow is fine, but never force. Your mom knew she would have been the one judged if you didn't eat when you were guests, and this can be a big deal depending on where you come from. But she would have been better just encouraging you kids to take and try small portions only when you were guests, not at every meal. People complain about the stresses of adulthood, but simple things like never having to eat something you don't like again makes adulthood way better IMO
It isn't a supertaster issue or a super-smeller issue. I have both of these traits as well and I love all veg. This is a parenting issue, not a biological one. My parents were both very big foodies and they loved vegetables. My mom made eating them exciting and fun. It's all in the framing. My dad had a particular love of spinach. He would be visibly happy all afternoon when we were going to have spinach for dinner. It never occurred to me that vegetables were something bad. I loved them all for the simple fact that my family loved them. I mean they must be good if my dad is walking around with a big smile on his face because we are having a spinach side dish! That makes a huge impact on a child's perception. I saw a show where a kid would gag when trying to eat veg. An expert came to help. The mom said she was a supertaster and was the same as her son. It turned out after testing that both were average tasters. The mom inadvertantly influenced her child to hate veg.
Your parents positive modeling of healthy food habits and the good overall perception of healthy foods are wonderful examples of good parenting. We should all take a page from their book. But I think the super smellers and tasters, those with sensitivity to texture, are probably talking about sensory processing disorder. While SPD is often associated with autism, they also occur on their own. It can be hyper or hypo sensitive. Another common SPD is with feet, where something seemingly impossible to notice as the stitching across the toe can cause a kid incredible distress. A lot of parents have had daily sock battles but never realized their kid wasn't just being difficult.
Yup stitching it's the worse. Any seam really it makes wearing clothes the worse. I wear most of them inside out.
I'm 40, so this stuff was not recognized when I was little. And some socks were fine, if the seem went across the top, but similar socks that went around the tips, or could get moved to the under side of my toes, I couldn't stand it. And my mom would get so mad at me, and would mock me for saying things were uncomfortable. I don't know if I just grew out of it, my feet getting tougher from summers barefoot, anemia/poor circulation, but I m not bothered at all now. My little one got upset when I put her in stockings for Halloween so I pulled them right back off, leggings did the job just fine and she likes to wear them.
I have a friend who done the same thing . His son would only eat chicken nuggets are mac and cheese and junk food .. One night I kept his son and we went to eat Mexican food at first he didn't won't it but I told him I would get my order to go so he could eat when we got home. All the way home he smelled the food by the time we got home he wanted to try it and he loves it. Another time I cooked dinner for them he was eating fine his dad was late getting there. But once his dad sat down and I passed him the green beans he said no thanks I don't like them immediately his son started gaging and dinner was ruined. I pointed this out to him later and now I think they eat a little bit of everything.
You are totally wrong. My mom loved vegetables especially greens. I can't stand the smell of cooked greens. I like vegetables plenty, but I like them raw. I don't like them cooked. Your smeller is your smeller. You like vegetables NOT because your parents do but because YOU do. All people are different.
41 and a very picky eater! I get laughed at all the time by my boyfriend and many of my friends for it. My twin sister and father are the same way. We all only eat an extremely limited list of food. My mom eats more of a variety than any of us. When we were kids she forced us to eat stuff we hated. Now My bf asks me to try new foods almost weekly and he means well. I try it to pacifiy him like we did our mom and have yet to add any of the things I've tried to my list. I don't get why people get so twisted over someone elses food choices. This MIL sounds like a total AH willing to starve her granddaughter to make a point.
There is no such thing as delicious brussel sprouts, it's a myth. I don't do conspiracy theories, but one, the brussel sprout thing. My mom was very picky about texture, but didn't have the "gene" for smelling the true nature of brussel sprouts. And loved it. Or so she claimed. I don't believe her, I don't believe any of them. THEY LIE FOR WORLD DOMINANCE! She never made me eat them though ;) But really, there's the real answer, don't force it, show it's there, have people try things, don't overly protect them. Dad is overprotective, grandparents are denying her the foods she likes, making them forcing new things upon her. It's not ok.
Omg yes, I’m 40 and have always been ridiculously picky.. it’s not that I just choose to be that way it’s that I physically can’t stand a ton of foods and most of it is due to textures.. nothing pisses me off more that people who say to just suck it up and stop. As if it were that easy..
I am 47 years old, am a super taster, super smeller, have several food allergies and have texture issues. As such, the rule in my house and with my children has always been: take one bite, even if it is a small one, and if you do not like it, you do not have to eat it. This way, they are at least trying new things each and every time, but they are NEVER forced to eat something they can not stand to eat. I also believe that they DO NOT have to clean their plates. Children often don't feel like eating so much, so they eat a little bit and are done. Forcing them to eat everything on their plates just contributes to obesity. So, all you people out there who force any type of food or any amount of food on a child, knock it off!!!! Thank you for letting me rant a little!
Exactly! A lot of people decide that they don't like a food just because of the way it looks. If they give it just one bite, then they get an accurate picture of what it actually is and THEN can decide if they like it. This is why my parents hid it, then told us to close our eyes and had a do a guessing game for one bite. It checked all of the boxes for fun, but also allowed us to try new things without those harmful preconceptions. It was great!
Holy smokes! Maybe that is _my_ issue? I have wondered why there are many things I absolutely find taste vomitous to me. I have actual gag reflex to mayo, mustard, avocado, or any "friends" of those items. I have issues w/various other stuff as well (e.g. brussel sprouts taste bitter and nasty to to me) but those are the most common offenders. I'm 50yo and have always been dubbed picky/difficult. People have asked me why and I have no satisfying answer...the stuff is just not good tasting or smelling to me. I never considered it could be that I have a more sensitive palate than most. I'll have to look into testing this further.
The increased sensory sensitivities is so common it has a name now. It's called Sensory Processing Disorder, and is believed to be linked to essentially a malfunction in the brain's automatic filter, the part that decides whether or not something is important enough to pay attention to. It was originally noticed in autistic children, but also can occur on its own.
It seems like Dad and Daughter have worked out an arrangement where she eats what he makes and they both get to bond over remembering a loved one. I don't see how interfering with that can possibly be helpful. They are both sad and need comfort.
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But when she's not at home, and not with her dad, she can eat other things and become more resilient. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about having safe moments and bonding. But food should also be considered functional to not develop a strange relationship with it. When she's outside her home, she does not need comfort food accompanying her her whole life. I do also think that the grandparents should provide her with some of the foods she does love, but also take the opportunity of different surroundings to try new things. All these people seem like stubborn idiots only seeing one correct way. Dad is not doing what's best for his kid, grandparents aren't either.
Load More Replies...The OP said he's trying to cook new dishes, have you missed that? They didn't mention the daughter would only eat one single dish either so I assume she has a varied diet. I don't have children but from what I had read so far there are many children that refuse to eat anything but chicken nuggets for weeks on end (and snacks of course) and it's ok, because eating the same thing (I'm pretty sure some stuff is always snuck in somehow) for a while is better than starve your child or force them to eat what they hate. I was one of those that was forced and I grew up to be a picky eater and I'd rather go hungry than eat something I hate (mostly my childhood dishes). I have an unhealthy relationship with food BECAUSE I was forced.
Ad a person who grew up with an eating disorder, you have no right to instill your path to "recovery". Due to bullying and being awkward and introverted, there were years in grade school where I only ate soup. Then I moved on to cheese sandwiches. Eventually I grew out of them and moved on to eating variety of foods. This child is suffering a completely different type of trauma and you are being as inconsequential about it as her grandmother. You are wrong.
This Dad is doing everything correctly for his daughter. The girl is 6 years old, she can't grasp what is happening in her little world. Her Dad is amazing and more men should be so. Time will help the girl and she will eventually be open to other people's foods but for now this is what she needs and no harm in that! The grandparents are the idiots and apparently you are as well.
You're laying it on thick Rissie. My goodness, the dad is doing everything right yet you're going on as if he isn't.
Rissie clearly you do not understand the effort the single dad is putting in and the difficulty in raising a picky eater. Being a picky eater and raising one. I know that they do not magically decided to like other food even when they are hungry. Short of threats and severaly starving them, it may be impossible to even get them to take a bite. Trust me. They will still hate those food and you just cause them to have mental resentment. Its not only the taste. Its the smell and texture. Certain food just does not appeal to certain people immediately. It takes time and effort to coerce them to try and enjoy new things.
Step 1: survive life-shattering event in whatever way possible. Step 326: introduce new foods to the small child whose world has been shattered and put back together with whatever tape and bubble gum you had on hand.
Exactly. As much as I would be a very strict mother and I dont believe in spoiling children she just lost her mother. What kind of monster does not feel pity for that poor child? She will elarn to eat more eventually. But now she needs to heal.
Load More Replies...Honestly, though, who cares if she only eats those meals for the rest of her life? It's still food, and it didn't sound like the meals were unhealthy, and the other parent made them ahead of time, so it's even easier. The whole thing from the MIL is a ridiculous hill to die on.
I agree if we're talking about the dad. There other things to be concerned about.
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It's not about the meals, it's about the attitude. If solace is found in food in a world that is so abundant in it, it can create some crazy realities for a person. Whether it be overeating, boulimia, anorexia. Feelings outside of hunger should not become attached to food. Picky eaters are prone to that, so being more careful is very important for future physical health. It really is no joke. And people who have not experienced it, what happens when it does get skewed do not get a say in this. Both grandparents and dad need to grow the f**k up for the sake of this kiddo.
You're putting a lot of" ifs" on this situation. You don't need to address a problem that doesn't exist. Coping with death by bonding over food isn't dangerous. What is dangerous is assuming that you need to punish a grief-coping child, because *other people* have drasticly unhealthy relationships with food.
I'm with you - neurotypical kids who just like manipulating mom and dad can just miss a meal if they want to be picky, but if a kid's world is out of control and the one thing they feel like they can control is the food they put in their mouth, then it is time for the adults to show some grace and flexibility, even if they also just lost their daughter.
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You would be? If you "would be" you have no clue what you "would be".
@Rissie: You don't need to be a parent to have an opinion or an idea of what you would do given a set of circumstances. Again, for those in the back: you do NOT need to be a parent to have an opinion. If you did, I'd also require that you keep your trap shut about movies and songs and sports unless you actually have ever made a movie, released music as a global icon, (includes Bieber haters as well as those who have never written a symphony) or played in a professional sports league. It's the same thing.
But until you ARE a parent, you have no idea how you will actually handle a situation. It's great to say that you know, but you really don't.
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You can't predict what kind of parent you'll be until you have children. Everyone thinks they'll be a certain way and everyone changes after they actually have a kid.
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Yeah, still there's a more subtle approach. You don't want to make food the comfort blanket to run to. Believe you me. Dad should not prepare meals for outside the home like that, grand parents should provide meals that resemble it and still show there is other foods too to try. And because it's not at home, there's an opportunity to keep the relationship with food a healthy one without any force. Picky eaters are prone to developing a very unhealthy stance towards food, whether it becomes overeating or "undereating" for the lack of a good word in my brain right now. You want to be very, very careful with that. Don't make it bigger, don't force anything, always keep an open mind. All these people seem very stubborn and dad should not project his own grieving process upon his child.
Rissie, you're assuming and saying things that are not even happening. Yikes! Just yikes!
As a 65-year-old picky eater, what I do know is that picky eaters tend to be super-smellers and/or super-tasters (I’m both), which sounds like it would be good thing but isn’t. What it means is that what you taste as a delicious serving of brussel sprouts to me smells and tastes something that came out of a garbage can and will likely make me vomit. My mother always made me, my sister and brothers take a small helping of things we didn’t like with the idea that it would help us avoid awkward situations when we were guests somewhere, which sounds like a great idea in theory, but once I was on my own, I decided I would never again eat anything I don’t like. I understand worrying about nutritional needs, but would highly recommend giving your children fortified vitamins rather than forcing them to eat foods they don’t like. They may find later on in life that they’re willing to give something a go if they weren’t *forced* to eat it as a child.
I work with grown men who still eat nothing but poptarts and pbj sandwiches. It is important to expand kids pallettes. You never know what they'll like. If they find that they absolutely abhor brussel sprouts, well, they never have to try brussel sprouts made that way again, but if they're made completely differently, a bite to try it won't kill them. However, right after a kids mom dies is truly the worst possible time to be doing this.
If you teach a child how to have a healthy relationship with food, they'll naturally be more adventurous later. Some kids just take longer to get to that point.
There is a reason I am willing to try new things. My mother never forced us to eat what we didn't like and gave us vitamins for the nutrients we didn't get from what we did like.
58 year old ultra picky eater here. If it looks wrong, smells wrong, tastes wrong, feels wrong, SOUNDS wrong--I can't eat it. I can't have my food touch each other too. I can't have sauces or gravies on my food; they have to be on the side and then MAYBE I will try them. I can't eat food that's all mixed together--no salads, casseroles, or stews for me. There's several kinds of conditions or food disorders that I have, but while they may ease somewhat into adulthood, they don't go away. Forcing someone to eat something they JUST CAN'T eat let alone touch or be in the same room with, is cruel and unhelpful. They may ease somewhat as one gets older (and a person's senses dull) but they never truly go away.
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Stews and casserole and such are like refurbished barf for a meal I can do that either
You are both sensitive. My granddaughter is too. Very much. Strict rules only gives eating disorders... poor child...
Ugh yes. Texture, residue of other food (for example: I can taste the residue the cucumber restaurants give you leaves on food), taste, smell…
I’ve always been called crazy for this exact thing! People who tell you just to take it off and they think that solves the problem
I grew up with severe adrenal fatigue, which meant food often overwhelmed my senses. Sometimes, I would be starving but would have very little appetite. What I have learned is that it doesn't matter so much what you eat. It's that you EAT. If the only thing you can convince yourself to eat is something unhealthy, or it's the same thing you've eaten every day that week, it's better than eating nothing at all.
Ditto. I've got a variety of issues, and that's one of them. I'm thankful that my parents never forced me to eat anything I didn't want to. Which is why I've been a vegetarian since I was around 5 years old in a family of omnivores. I don't think people understand how frustrating it can be to be a super-taster.
As a 6 yo I hated almost every vegetable. But I was "forced" to eat in a way that I wasn't even aware that I was forced. I could always leave part of the portion and dad would show me which part I had to eat and which part was optional. It was a psychological strategy. I almost always had something left on my plate yet still got all my nutritions and never felt "forced" because I didn't have to eat it all. I benefit from it today because even my most hated veggie (brussel sprouts) is something I LOVE today. I could eat a whole plate of them without anything on the side. I prefer any veggie over meat, fish, potatoes, rice or pasta and only eat combinations because of the nutritional value but I could live on veggies alone despite my hate as a kid. But the trick for me was that I got forced without realizing that I got forced. And believe me, just because I eat anything doesn't mean I'm not what you call a "super-taster". I taste difference in good or poor quality ingredients.
I'm glad you like them now! I think there's the difference between psychological and physiological barriers. Physiologically for example, I can be grossed out by texture or appearance of food and not want to try it. You're dad's strategy would probably be helpful for that! Physiologically, I tasted "bitter" EXTREMELY strongly as a kid, to the point that the mildest, youngest lettuce was so bitter it made me nauseous. It still tastes bitter today, but not quite to the same overwhelming degree--I can't imagine I'll ever enjoy salad, but a few pieces of lettuce in a sandwich are nice.
As an example now of fine tasting, there's a whole world of difference between a bread prepared with sugar, butter and a shitload of additives and flour with zero fibers or a bread that has the less processed flour so still with nutritious fibers (whole grain) with only water and yeast and a tiny pinch of salt. You make me happier with the latter than the heavily processed sugared bread. There's a huge difference in taste between a piece of meat from a cow that had a good quality of life and died painless and that of a cow that had poor quality of life and had stress and pain at the end. I taste that difference. I taste the difference between wines and just because I appreciate both Dornfelder and Lambrusco doesn't mean that I don't taste difference and don't have a favorite (a good Merlot). So yes, I am a super-taster. But I am not picky. Super-taster and picky aren't equal.
Smeller here, and it's awful when people will fuss ta me. I'm vegetarian b/c animal fat smells especially get to me ----- Iand brussel sprouts (smells like compost!)
I was forced to sit in front of a tuna fish sandwich until my mom came to pick me up from daycare. I did try it, didn't like it. This was over 35 years ago, and I still remember the smell, the taste, the texture, the bits of celery. I can't even let mayo touch my hand, let alone my food. Encouraging trying things as kids grow is fine, but never force. Your mom knew she would have been the one judged if you didn't eat when you were guests, and this can be a big deal depending on where you come from. But she would have been better just encouraging you kids to take and try small portions only when you were guests, not at every meal. People complain about the stresses of adulthood, but simple things like never having to eat something you don't like again makes adulthood way better IMO
It isn't a supertaster issue or a super-smeller issue. I have both of these traits as well and I love all veg. This is a parenting issue, not a biological one. My parents were both very big foodies and they loved vegetables. My mom made eating them exciting and fun. It's all in the framing. My dad had a particular love of spinach. He would be visibly happy all afternoon when we were going to have spinach for dinner. It never occurred to me that vegetables were something bad. I loved them all for the simple fact that my family loved them. I mean they must be good if my dad is walking around with a big smile on his face because we are having a spinach side dish! That makes a huge impact on a child's perception. I saw a show where a kid would gag when trying to eat veg. An expert came to help. The mom said she was a supertaster and was the same as her son. It turned out after testing that both were average tasters. The mom inadvertantly influenced her child to hate veg.
Your parents positive modeling of healthy food habits and the good overall perception of healthy foods are wonderful examples of good parenting. We should all take a page from their book. But I think the super smellers and tasters, those with sensitivity to texture, are probably talking about sensory processing disorder. While SPD is often associated with autism, they also occur on their own. It can be hyper or hypo sensitive. Another common SPD is with feet, where something seemingly impossible to notice as the stitching across the toe can cause a kid incredible distress. A lot of parents have had daily sock battles but never realized their kid wasn't just being difficult.
Yup stitching it's the worse. Any seam really it makes wearing clothes the worse. I wear most of them inside out.
I'm 40, so this stuff was not recognized when I was little. And some socks were fine, if the seem went across the top, but similar socks that went around the tips, or could get moved to the under side of my toes, I couldn't stand it. And my mom would get so mad at me, and would mock me for saying things were uncomfortable. I don't know if I just grew out of it, my feet getting tougher from summers barefoot, anemia/poor circulation, but I m not bothered at all now. My little one got upset when I put her in stockings for Halloween so I pulled them right back off, leggings did the job just fine and she likes to wear them.
I have a friend who done the same thing . His son would only eat chicken nuggets are mac and cheese and junk food .. One night I kept his son and we went to eat Mexican food at first he didn't won't it but I told him I would get my order to go so he could eat when we got home. All the way home he smelled the food by the time we got home he wanted to try it and he loves it. Another time I cooked dinner for them he was eating fine his dad was late getting there. But once his dad sat down and I passed him the green beans he said no thanks I don't like them immediately his son started gaging and dinner was ruined. I pointed this out to him later and now I think they eat a little bit of everything.
You are totally wrong. My mom loved vegetables especially greens. I can't stand the smell of cooked greens. I like vegetables plenty, but I like them raw. I don't like them cooked. Your smeller is your smeller. You like vegetables NOT because your parents do but because YOU do. All people are different.
41 and a very picky eater! I get laughed at all the time by my boyfriend and many of my friends for it. My twin sister and father are the same way. We all only eat an extremely limited list of food. My mom eats more of a variety than any of us. When we were kids she forced us to eat stuff we hated. Now My bf asks me to try new foods almost weekly and he means well. I try it to pacifiy him like we did our mom and have yet to add any of the things I've tried to my list. I don't get why people get so twisted over someone elses food choices. This MIL sounds like a total AH willing to starve her granddaughter to make a point.
There is no such thing as delicious brussel sprouts, it's a myth. I don't do conspiracy theories, but one, the brussel sprout thing. My mom was very picky about texture, but didn't have the "gene" for smelling the true nature of brussel sprouts. And loved it. Or so she claimed. I don't believe her, I don't believe any of them. THEY LIE FOR WORLD DOMINANCE! She never made me eat them though ;) But really, there's the real answer, don't force it, show it's there, have people try things, don't overly protect them. Dad is overprotective, grandparents are denying her the foods she likes, making them forcing new things upon her. It's not ok.
Omg yes, I’m 40 and have always been ridiculously picky.. it’s not that I just choose to be that way it’s that I physically can’t stand a ton of foods and most of it is due to textures.. nothing pisses me off more that people who say to just suck it up and stop. As if it were that easy..
I am 47 years old, am a super taster, super smeller, have several food allergies and have texture issues. As such, the rule in my house and with my children has always been: take one bite, even if it is a small one, and if you do not like it, you do not have to eat it. This way, they are at least trying new things each and every time, but they are NEVER forced to eat something they can not stand to eat. I also believe that they DO NOT have to clean their plates. Children often don't feel like eating so much, so they eat a little bit and are done. Forcing them to eat everything on their plates just contributes to obesity. So, all you people out there who force any type of food or any amount of food on a child, knock it off!!!! Thank you for letting me rant a little!
Exactly! A lot of people decide that they don't like a food just because of the way it looks. If they give it just one bite, then they get an accurate picture of what it actually is and THEN can decide if they like it. This is why my parents hid it, then told us to close our eyes and had a do a guessing game for one bite. It checked all of the boxes for fun, but also allowed us to try new things without those harmful preconceptions. It was great!
Holy smokes! Maybe that is _my_ issue? I have wondered why there are many things I absolutely find taste vomitous to me. I have actual gag reflex to mayo, mustard, avocado, or any "friends" of those items. I have issues w/various other stuff as well (e.g. brussel sprouts taste bitter and nasty to to me) but those are the most common offenders. I'm 50yo and have always been dubbed picky/difficult. People have asked me why and I have no satisfying answer...the stuff is just not good tasting or smelling to me. I never considered it could be that I have a more sensitive palate than most. I'll have to look into testing this further.
The increased sensory sensitivities is so common it has a name now. It's called Sensory Processing Disorder, and is believed to be linked to essentially a malfunction in the brain's automatic filter, the part that decides whether or not something is important enough to pay attention to. It was originally noticed in autistic children, but also can occur on its own.






















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