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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:
Hollywolly1 · 06/02/2021 23:08

Please do not punish,kids do things

MichelleScarn · 06/02/2021 23:11

@MollyButton its not the kids choice to eat in their room.

SavannahMiasMum · 06/02/2021 23:11

@Soubriquet

I can’t bloody win

A few months ago I was grim for not having them sit at the table and letting them have a tray at the sofa even when I said I’m there was no room.

Now it’s eat at the sofa with a tray Confused

You’ll never win on here as so many here just to be difficult and oppose whatever is said. They have nothing to do but be difficult. Often it makes wonder who are the children.

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Blackberrycream · 06/02/2021 23:34

What happened just shows why it is inappropriate. They need more care and guidance.
Surely a better solution can be found. We ate on laps growing up but together. We have been in cramped conditions at different points but had a fold out table for mealtimes. I actually think it’s bordering on negligence. I’m not saying that to upset you but just in the sense that it may be time to look at things and sort it out.

WaltzingTilda · 06/02/2021 23:40

I don't think they should be pubished. Kids do things like that. My BIL would hide food (including
bowls of cereal) under the sofa as a child , he grew up fine. I am sure I wouldn't have had my meals either if left to my own devices. I think at that age children need to be supervised at mealtimes to make sure they eat their food. These are stressful times for all of us especially children. I wouldn't punish, I would keep an eye on them to make sure they finish their food.

WaltzingTilda · 06/02/2021 23:46

Punished*

Thisisworsethananticpated · 06/02/2021 23:48

Punishment ? I thought they’d tortured a dog or injured someone
Talk to them

sadpapercourtesan · 06/02/2021 23:49

I'd make them clean it up. And then give them a bit more agency over what they eat.

m0therofdragons · 06/02/2021 23:51

Why let your dc eat in their bedroom? Rather than punishment, change routine. At 5 and 7 I’m not sure my dc ate stuff on their own. I’m assuming it’s snacks rather than meals, so no snacks unless eaten at the dining room table plus a discussion on hygiene would be my approach.

m0therofdragons · 06/02/2021 23:52

How do you ground a 5 and 7 year old? What does that even look like, especially during lockdown?

Rainallnight · 06/02/2021 23:55

Just practically speaking, would it be better to turn their bedroom into a sitting room/dining room if it’s bigger? And give them bunk beds in the smaller room that’s currently the sitting room?

Thegreymethod · 07/02/2021 00:02

I wouldn't punish them (also dying to know how you even "ground" a 5 and 7 year old, where do they go that that would affect them in any way? And also we're in lockdown so it just seems a bit pointless! Aren't we all practically grounded!)
Is their bedroom really the only place they can eat? No wonder they're stuffing it under the wardrobes who wants to waste playtime eating a full meal and taking the dishes down! I say this as a mum who has banned eating upstairs but constantly find plates and cups in my sons room so not judging you.

MadameBlobby · 07/02/2021 00:06

No punishment, they are tiny and there is no where else for them to eat!

MadameBlobby · 07/02/2021 00:08

@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

Can you buy a couple of small fold up tables?
IdblowJonSnow · 07/02/2021 00:15

Sad thread. I really hope you don't punish them for that.

Tubs11 · 07/02/2021 00:17

I find it odd that they eat in their rooms alone regardless of space. You want them to eat well then you should all eat together, even if it's picnic style on the floor. Has punishment for not eating ever worked for anyone?

Viviennemary · 07/02/2021 00:24

I don't think there should be any punishment at all. It sounds as if they are inadequately supervised. In fact considering their ages have you even got a clue on how to be a parent.,

MichelleScarn · 07/02/2021 00:26

I keep coming back to this thread hoping its not real, with all.the background of living with husband and his girlfriend and etc going on.

TheSmallAssassin · 07/02/2021 00:28

Don't go straight to punishment over this, they probably had no idea that doing this would cause problems. You shouldn't punish someone if they don't know that they are doing anything wrong, you teach them - or put guardrails in place so that they don't do the wrong thing in the first place, in this case, someone should be supervising them while they are eating.

Mamanyt · 07/02/2021 00:31

@VodselForDinner

They’re given food they don’t want, eaten alone in their rooms.

I think they’ve been punished enough.

OP has already stated that they were NOT given food that they didn't want to eat, they chose that food and then hid it so they could go play. A bit different.

However, they're a bit young to be eating unsupervised, or at least the 5-year-old probably is, and the 7-year-old is in no way old enough to supervise the younger one.

As for not punishing...there is a vast difference between punishing and having consequences. By the age of 5-7, I had heard any number of lectures on The Evils of Wasting Food, and the Starving Children in (I forget where, but I think Biafra). Probably my father's horror at wasting food came from being reared in the USA in the depths of the Great Depression. DISCUSS this. Talk to them about waste, and figure out a consequence, not a punishment. Do this with your kids. You may be surprised at their suggestions.

MyDcAreMarvel · 07/02/2021 00:33

@Soubriquet I think you would benefit from early help ( the step before social services) please speak to your children’s school. You really need some support in parenting appropriately.

midnightstar66 · 07/02/2021 00:41

A few months ago I was grim for not having them sit at the table and letting them have a tray at the sofa even when I said I’m there was no room.

There's nothing grim about dc eating on a sofa with a tray. Mine do it and they aren't much older than yours. We have a table squeezed in the living room but it's generally repurposed and piled with their crap so can't eat from it . They should not be sat in their room at a table on their own at that age. If their room is bigger then the living room then switch it? Do not punish your dc. If they don't want it then they don't want it. It's sad they feel they need to hide it.

2pinkginsplease · 07/02/2021 00:47

Not sure I’d punish them but I wouldn’t have them taking food upstairs, my teens aren’t allowed food upstairs. They sit at the kitchen table or sit in the living room.

You’ve been lax, just tighten the rules rather than punish.

Blackberrycream · 07/02/2021 00:49

I think the advice from MyDcAreMarvel is good. Please get some help and support for yourself and your children.

Mollymalone123 · 07/02/2021 00:55

Children that age need supervision at mealtimes- even if it’s a squeeze they should be eating where an adult can see them. I’d be worried about choking. Also making sure the children had good table manners and were being taught how to eat properly etc. Please don’t punish them.