AIBU to expect my daughter to finish eating her meal on time.

[A12326]

AIBU?

My daughter is 5 years old. And lately my patience with her is running low since I am pregnant and she just started school.

Today, she just got back from school and I served her meal, chicken and pasta and sat her on her little table to eat food. The food has been cut for her to eat it easily so it is not on big chunks and pieces. She sits down. But proceeds to do ANYTHING but eat. She's watching cartoons (fine with me as long as she eats) playing with her toys and standing up to talk to us instead of eating. The thing is she ASKED for her food. She came and asked me for cookies but I told her not until after dinner so I know she was hungry. I served her at 4:30 it is now 5:55 and she still is eating.

Her dad is now mad at me because I told her finish eating in an angry tone, and pulled her table in front of me to make sure she is eating. In the process her food slipped and fell all over the floor which I cleaned. My husband is now acting as if I'm the AH for doing that. When he was the one in charge of watching her eat her meal while I took a nap. Now, I did ask after waking up if she had finished her meal. He said she was eating, turns out she was not but as usual he was not paying attention.

So. Am I being unreasonable?

Exactly this sometimes a smaller portion is more appealing. They can always ask for a bit more.

Why are you not sitting with her? Why is there a TV on? You are teaching her terrible habits. Eat with her, don't make her eat on her own, even if you are going to have an adult meal with partner later.

My 6 yr old can be like this. It’s so frustrating. Turn off the TV. And if you have to, spoon feed her. 5yrs old is still really young and after a day at school she is mentally and physically exhausted…. Just help her out. Eat with her and role model. Don’t overload her plate…. Small easy to imagine eating portions will help.

Maybe she needs to sit at a table away from toys/TV for her meal

Plus your expectations are high for having a nap with small children about the place.

We’ve always eaten with DD, very occasionally she will eat by herself but usually I have dinner with her at 5 and DH joins when he can leave work early. It’s better for her, she’s more likely to eat whats on her plate etc. It’s not ideal, I prefer dinner at 7 ish tbh but it is what it is and I think it’s important we sit together and talk during a meal.

The dinners going to be rotten since this thread is from august.

I would remove toys and t.v. Because this is not teaching her mindful eating.
She needs to be aware of chewing properly and knowing when she is full.
I believe this will help her as she gets older to be aware of what she is putting into her body and to not over eat due to lack of focus.
try to remain seated,can you not sit at the table with her,the dining table I mean,and have dinner as a family?seeing you sitting down throughout the meal will encourage her to do the same.
I appreciate you are exhausted but hopefully she will catch on quickly and meal times will be easier for you all.

ZOMBIE THREAD

She's only 5, give her a break. Also why is she watching TV and eating, you've made a rod for your own back there

When I was a kid me & my brother some nights had our tea before my dad came home & then mum cooked for them both when he arrived home. I was always a slow eater (still am) & often was still eating my tea when dad came home.

Of course you’re being unreasonable because you let her watch cartoons AND play with your at the same time as eating? No toys and cartoons and no getting down until she’s had enough food. Done.