I have just realised that my kids are like feral animals around the kitchen and I have no control over their diet

[Cappuccino]

something needs to be done

they eat snacks

they don't eat their tea

they leave their tea

they scream because they can't have snacks

I told dd2 (3) today that she could have a flapjack when she had finished her bagel

she never even sat down for the bagel she was all over the damn place, then I found her eating a miniature Yorkie that she had found in a box (we never have them, we had them at the weekend for camping and they had been put away)

and her flapjack was in the garden in a flowerbed

when dd1 gets home from school she will get an orange, leave half of it lying around, moan that she is hungry, leave her tea, moan for dessert, moan some more, wander off, and then strop at 6.30 because she is hungry and wants 'supper' (ie biscuits, which we never even have in the damn house)

I can't get them to sit down and eat and I know it is supposed to be a lovely family time but it is like feeding a family of animals they don't stay still and they have their own agenda

and I did everything right we always do family mealtimes we are supposed to be sitting wonderfully around the table talking about our day and being Good Family but they WON'T PLAY NICELY and they are out of control and I do not know what to do

Message withdrawn

you are right missblythe

I only make the flapjacks really to send to school because I am unimaginative around packed lunches

and then they know they are in the house and they are like tracker dogs

Yes, in that order but not every day the same things.

Lol at fierce Cod, me too

Dont know why...

oh mutt is lovely

thanks for that

do I know you, or are you just a Right Cow?

Generally I am a laid back they'll-eat-when-they're-hungry sort, but the table gymnastics would drive me nuts.

Do they need constant feeding, or can they cope without eating between meals?

You could start by only handing out tiddly portions as snacks, and making a rule of all food being consumed at the table.

If they need several snacks between meals - because some children do - then mealtimes need to be shorter, or let them get down and run about between main meal and desert.

Same her with children and mindees, either you sit or you dont eat, no one eats walking around in this house including me and DH.

We have snack after school, big plastic mat on the floor, youngest (14month) in a booster chair sat on the floor, all the others (can be up to 8) crosslegged on th emat, food eaten drinks drunk before anyone gets up.

Same at lunchtime, all sat at table, youngest two in boosters attached to chairs, we all eat, if the get down food put in bin.

my mum gives them stuff

if they eat their dinner at her house she gives them 4 smarties

I am Against Smarties

Ds2 is exactly the same at the moment Cappy. He had a major tantrum today when I was dropping the others off at school (he's 4 fgs). I think it was because he hadn't eaten any breakfast. He hasn't had any lunch yet (he's not hungry for what's on offer ).

He is obsessed with "treats" - I had a thread recently about his ability to seek out and devour biscuits, etc. no matter how well hidden.

No advice therefore, just much sympathy!

yes I need to concentrate don't I

I need to be schoolmarmish

Message withdrawn

ok so what can i give dd2 for breakfast

I want to break her Cheerios habit but if she can't find any she just eats dh's bagels and he gets cross

she can find them in any cupboard, as she is a tracker dog

Message withdrawn

OMG Cod I think I actually agree with you!!!!!!!!!!! (thud)

Wear a pinny Capp, so they know it is dinner time and you are serious. Pinny on, time to eat and behave

Message withdrawn

start with the tough love

so tonight one of them gets up, say in your sternest voice 'oh you're getting up are you, you must have finished then', plate is taking off the table, end of, no pudding

ignore the tantrum whilst other dd eats her dinner in shocked silence

lesson 1 learnet

tomorrow repeat, repeat , repeat!!

good luck!

Message withdrawn

Can dd2 have bagels for breakfast? Will dh share?

because I didn't say 'my children are uncontrollable' I said they didn't sit down for their dinners, mutt

I asked for advice, and you gave me 'well it is because you are a shit mum with children who have no respect for you at all'

er, no. It's just that they find eating quite boring and want to do something else

you horrid woman

oh fgs

mutt isn't right

my kids don't sit down to eat

they are good kids apart from that

Yoghurt for breakfast? I have made orange breakfast muffins for those days when i am in a rush. They all feel like they are eating cake for breakfast and sit and demolish with glee. Quick breakfast, no messing, result.

now thank you so much posie

you can stay, as you are actually helpful

also buy more bagels