To have put her to bed without any lunch

[Butttons]

Am totally eaten up by guilt and want to know if others think I've been a cow or if this is normal.

DH is out all day leaving me with 2 DC (4 and 22-months). Younger DD is going through stage of pushing boundaries. A lot. Which doesn't sit well with the thimble-full of patience I have most days.

Took them to the park this morning, then we came home for a late lunch (pizza, homemade with lots of veg before anyone starts). Older child happily eating while younger one just starts messing around with her lunch and pretty much doing everything but eat it (with me giving her encouragement to eat). finally when she pushed her plate away for the 4th time I just broke, picked her up and put her into her cot for her nap. She cried a little for about 5 mins and is now asleep but I feel terribly Victorian for sending her to bed without food. Obviously when she wakes I'll give her lunch and if she doesn't want pizza she can have something else but I just can't stop crying that I've been really really horrible to her. I just struggle so much on the days I'm outnumbered by them.

Sorry, mixed them up. Even more normal for 22 months. In fact almost obligatory!

She pushed it away and clearly wasn't hungry. I think you should have respected that and taken the hint first time she showed you that she wasn't interested. No need to keep pestering her. Offer her the same food later on when she looks peckish.

I used to have to do this with my youngest, not a late lunch but when he was little he was better off sleeping and eating afterwards.

I think you need to be kinder to yourself

I'd say from what you described she was more tired than hungry. The speed she fell asleep backs that up.

Give her a big hug when she wakes up if it will help you feel better about how you out her to bed

No need to feel bad she'll eat when she wakes up

Try not to let mealtimes stress you out - they won't starve themselves