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Original poster

What would your punishment be for this....

187 replies

Soubriquet · 06/02/2021 21:15

We have discovered that food the dc don’t want to eat has been shoved under the wardrobe

It was found purely by chance.

We don’t normally move the wardrobe to hoover under it because it’s so big and cumbersome. It’s been under there so long it’s gone mouldy EnvyEnvy

They are both grounded tomorrow but what else could happen?

They have been eating in their room because there isn’t real room in the living room (very small room) and we eat different times as I’m in bed early due to night shift work.

The first thing we have done is squeezed a small amount of space in so they can no longer eat unsupervised. It will be an extremely tight squeeze but a necessary evil

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 06/02/2021 22:08

They're only little! Just explain about why we don't do it.

Somethingkindaoooo · 06/02/2021 22:09

Gosh

seepingweeping · 06/02/2021 22:10

They don't eat in their bedrooms.

No punishment.

Interested in this thread?

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Families
MrsCods · 06/02/2021 22:13

@Soubriquet

5 and 7 (almost 6 and 8)

The food that we have found is food they chose to eat, so not something that we gave them.

I think they shoved it under there because they wanted to go back and play even though they said they were hungry.

First of all start eating with hyphen. Set them up with little trays in the front room or something. 5-7 year olds shouldn't be eating alone in their bedrooms.
MichelleScarn · 06/02/2021 22:14

There's no logic as to why they'd hide food @SciFiScream there may be in this situation sadly OP has advised of an disordered eating including restricted eating so there may be misguided 'logic OP you may have stopped reading, but please don't punish them, and seek some help and support for you all. Is your DP supportive to you?

MrsCods · 06/02/2021 22:14

@Soubriquet

There is literally no room for a table

The choice would be them sitting on the sofa with a tray, or sitting at a table in their room

Sofa and a tray is much better
FlyingFaster · 06/02/2021 22:14

I wouldn't punish them, but I would try to find a way to have them eat in the living room instead of their bedroom. sitting on the floor at a coffee table, or with a tray on lap would be better.

Quandaries · 06/02/2021 22:14

Does your husband’s girlfriend still live with you? If so, can her room be repurposed as a dining room?

Lots of your posts over the years have caused me to raise an eyebrow for you kids’ well-being, @Soubriquet, but this one is quite something.

Icantrememebrtheartist · 06/02/2021 22:15

I have a 5 almost 6 year old.

I wouldn’t punish for that.

But I also wouldn’t have them eat their meals on their own in their room, they’re too young. We also have a very small room and the children have a small table.

5 is still very little and it’s normal to want to play rather than sit down and eat.

My children often push their meals away after a few bites. I always tell them to try and eat a bit more and then 5 more mouthfuls for the 5 year old, 4 for the 4 year old etc.

Also you want your children to be able to tell you they don’t want any more rather than be afraid to and hide it.

For what it’s worth my children are real grazers, they eat small portions and would happily graze all day! I think that’s normal with small children.

CityCommuter · 06/02/2021 22:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pinetreesfall · 06/02/2021 22:19

So what happens if one chokes while eating? Who is keeping an eye on them?
It's so antisocial too - meal times are for speaking to one another without interruptions!

AngelDelightUK · 06/02/2021 22:22

If their bedroom is bigger than the living room, can’t they have the living room as their bedroom so you have a larger space (their current bedroom)

starsinthegutter · 06/02/2021 22:22

Oh op, sounds like you're stressed out. Good idea for DH to eat with them if poss. Definitely no punishment, just explain why its not a good idea... turn it into a science lesson. And Definitely let them play in the snow tomorrow. Don't feel too down hearted by responses on here, you're doing your best.

MichelleScarn · 06/02/2021 22:22

@Quandaries

Does your husband’s girlfriend still live with you? If so, can her room be repurposed as a dining room?

Lots of your posts over the years have caused me to raise an eyebrow for you kids’ well-being, @Soubriquet, but this one is quite something.

So there's another room?!
Mischance · 06/02/2021 22:23

It sounds as if things are a tight squeeze at home, and I can see this must be difficult. But I really do think that eating together should go up the priority list - trays on laps together is fine.

This means that you are all sitting together and eating, so they cannot just abandon it to continue a game. Eating together is important time together; and if you are with them you can make sure you serve out only as much as they can eat.

MixedUpFiles · 06/02/2021 22:23

I wouldn’t punish them. The natural consequence would be no more eating in the bedroom and being asked to help clean up the mess.

Embarrasedaf · 06/02/2021 22:26

Obviously it’s grim, but I think you need to figure out why they chose to hide food under the wardrobe like that. Are they just naive or too lazy to put it in the bin, or are they scared of their parent’s reaction if they don’t clean their plate?

bonfireheart · 06/02/2021 22:28

How can you 'ground' a five year old?

TryingNotToPanicOverCovid · 06/02/2021 22:33

If this is real OP doesnt need more people jumping on her and genuinely needs some real life help.

oakleaffy · 06/02/2021 22:33

Not got eating disorders??
The only person I knew who did this had an eating disorder.

Won't go into details as don't want to be triggering, but cacheing food &c isn't normal behaviour, unless the food is rank.

~A rocking horse was found to have fossilised bacon fat inside it, poked down the pommel holes by a child who loathed fat and rind..

Dobbin kept his secrets til he needed restoring.

ALemonEntryDearWatson · 06/02/2021 22:33

Honestly, don't run every parenting decision you make past MN! Have some faith in your parenting.

This is an easy one. Meals on the sofa with foldaway tables. End of the issue

Kids do all sorts of things to get back to playing. Hiding food is no biggie at this age. Just tell them we don't do it, tell them why we don't do it and that's it isn't it?

I despair of some of the posters on here sometimes. Just incapable to making basic parenting decisions

AnnaSW1 · 06/02/2021 22:34

I wouldn't punish that. Why don't they feel able to throw it away or just tell you. I think it's really wrong to be thinking of punishing them.

SleepingStandingUp · 06/02/2021 22:34

@Soubriquet

And dh watches them...we just sleep separately
For all the crap OP is getting, it sounds like this is happening when she's asleep and Dad isn't bothering to look after them
DesdemonaDryEyes · 06/02/2021 22:34

My thoughts exactly. Where are they going to be grounded?

I recognise your user name but don’t know the history but from the bits I’ve read on this thread I think you need some sort of help.

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/02/2021 22:35

The poor kids are already being punished every single day. They’re not at school. They’re alone like some kind of some kind of solitary confinement forced on them because of Covid. No way should you be punishing such little dots.