can't believe i'm actually going to jinx it all by writing it down...
but i have to, because it still seems like a crazy dream...
remember last week i was whining & moaning @ my ridiculously picky eaters??? (thank you for all the lovely commiseration. it was such solace knowing that i'm not the only one :)
remember i was talking about the smiley face chart? well...it's actually working.
i know....who knew???
i'm waiting for the other shoe to drop...lol
but since my "they don't eat anything" breakdown & implementation of the "smiley face chart"....ryan & kate have eaten the following (kelly has been a pretty good eater who isn't afraid to try new things. so her smiley face task is cleaning up after herself when she comes home from school):
*roasted chicken
*roasted potatoes
*corn on the cob
*grape tomatoes
*turkey & cheese sandwiches (ryan)
*pasta (ryan)
*scrambled eggs & bacon
*green beans, peas, carrots & corn
after dinner last night, ryan even came into the kitchen to grab a few more roasted potatoes off of the baking sheet. when mike walked in from work he couldn't believe it when i told him "yeah...they ALL just ate full plates of roasted chicken, roasted potatoes & corn on the cob." could have knocked him over with a feather...
never.thought.i'd.see.the.day....
& to suzi who mentioned "try to stay calm...they love it when it bothers mummy". SO true!!! i think the chart thing has allowed me to stay calm actually. because there is some sort of consequence for not trying other than "mom is going to loose her mind". i just sit back, sip my wine & say "no problem, you don't want to eat it? i'll just erase the smiley faces. your choice...."
yeah...they have to get 10 smileys in a row to get their "prize". if they choose to not try the new item, they have to start back at square one.
i'm evil. this i know....lol
hope you are having a happy tuesday!!!
xoxo
gi
totally cool news! Voila!
Posted by: caro | May 12, 2010 at 02:34 PM
omg girl, you are getting those buggers down to the floor!! ha. mom's win!! and you have some talented kids! look at those smiley's!!!
Posted by: Revlie | May 12, 2010 at 02:36 PM
that is awesome gigi! Way to go mama!!!
Posted by: Ronda Palazzari | May 12, 2010 at 03:48 PM
How wonderful, Gigi! For everyone :)
Posted by: Lee Currie | May 12, 2010 at 03:59 PM
Yay! So happy it is working for you Gigi.
Very clever idea that all the smilie faces are erased if they don't try the new food.
Thanks for your lovely email, it is nice to know that there are lots of us all out there in that same boat :)
Posted by: Jaki | May 12, 2010 at 05:03 PM
high five yourself momma, what a great thing to implement!!!
Posted by: erin | May 13, 2010 at 02:56 AM
yay for the kennedy's!!
xo
Posted by: kl | May 13, 2010 at 04:59 PM
great idea! plus keeping your cool while sipping some tasty wine is great! LOL
i'm so glad your chart is working. brings back memories of a little chart i kept for sarah when she was about two.... she would not take naps so she got a smiley face sticker when she would. there weren't many smiley faces on the chart!!!! LOL you're doing waaaaaay better than i did. maybe i was missing an important factor...the glass of wine....
Posted by: Patty S | May 14, 2010 at 04:54 PM
Wooohoooo...it's working! Any consequence is better than "mum is losing her mind!" LOL
I love charts and rewards...we have a jobs one going at the moment. When you do your job as listed, you get a tick. If Mum or Dad have to do your job, you get a black tick. 3 black ticks = no pocket money! Working a treat so far!
So pleased to hear that you are having some success...what's the prize for 10 smileys?
Posted by: Suzitee | May 15, 2010 at 06:49 AM