You watch your family and friends chasing after their kids with food and think, “MY GOSH. Just put the food down and they’ll eat when they’re hungry.”
And then you have a kid of your own and find yourself tailing them with string cheese and applesauce hanging out of your pockets.
File that under, “Things I Wish I Supported Moms About Back Then But Had No FREAKING Idea.”
Ishu’s been a happy eater. He likes food. It’s never been difficult to get him to try something new. The first time he heard the word “ravioli,” I’m pretty sure he tried it simply because it was a word he hadn’t heard before and he was curious about it.
We’ve been pretty lucky in the food department (and before you try to say “MUST BE NICE,” LET ME REMIND YOU that my kid is a shit sleeper. Okay? I’m not frolicking in happy toddler-land over here).
But, right after he caught a cold a few weeks ago, he lost his appetite and was living off primarily pouches and milk.
And then his appetite never fully came back to what was “normal” for him before.
I mean, he’ll eat. He eats when he’s hungry, no doubt. But it’s like suddenly he’s this new kid who isn’t going to happily climb into his high chair and chow down for 30 minutes.
He doesn’t want to be tied down. He wants bites in between quick little jaunts to the book area.
Food is just not his number one priority right now.
I cried about it on Facebook yesterday. Putting out an entire damn buffet for this little man only for him to reach over it all to grab his pacifier and say “no mama.”
Some of you guys had some great advice. And some of you simply reminded me that I’m not alone.
Ankur always reminds me – every time I say “he hasn’t eaten nearly enough!” – that he’s fine and he’s energetic and he’s growing and he eats when he’s hungry.
I mostly can’t wrap my head around the fact that he can go 5 hours without eating sometimes. Whereas if I go 3 hours without a snack, I pretty much can’t function.
It reminds me of how I joke with my mama all the time about how *I* wear a jacket because *she* is cold. I guess I need to remind myself that just because *my* body has become accustomed to frequent snacking doesn’t mean *his* body is.
He’s fine.
It’s fine.
But I’ll keep that string cheese and applesauce in my pockets. You know, just in case.
Awwww yes. I totally can appreciate and empathize. I stress about Mila’s diet all. The. Time. And she’s a great eater. She loves to experiment and try new things and granted, doesn’t always like the same thing twice but she tries and that makes me happy. But I feel like I’m constantly worrying about her nutrition.
But hear me, sis. Ishu is such a beautiful, healthy boy. No one would know otherwise, and we fret because that’s what mommas do. So it’s fine. You’re fine. He’s fine.
Also does it ever drive you nuts when your husband is the face of calm about all the things that keep us up at night? Asking for a friend.