Have you ever thought you found just the right way to raise a child?

Question

Only to be brought back to reality by your second child?

I did. My oldest has always been the least picky eater in the world. Yesterday he snacked on carrots and cucumber at school, and when he came home he picked a ripe tomato from our plant and ate it. At dinner he had a third helping of green beans. He's always been like this.

Enter the secretly smug feeling of my parenting resulting in a healthy eater.

Except of course there is his little brother, who would barely touch a veggie if it were the last food on the planet.

Dylan · Answer

Growing up my dad raised me and my 3 younger siblings the exact same way....
My dad was a military man for 20 years up until 2 years ago , there was his way or no way...
If let's say my sister did something wrong she would get treated the exact same way I got treated that age...
I seriously miss living at home...
Tell them what to do.... "my house my rules" heard that a lot growing up!

LizB · Answer

I haven't thought this because I follow the school of thought that personality is largely innate, more the result of nature vs nurture, but I've certainly seen it happen. Some parents wind up with "dream babies" and get smug thinking they're rockstar parents, but in reality they just got lucky with a fairly compliant, low-maintenance kid. And then kid #2 comes along, mwa ha ha ha haaaa!!

I'm currently pregnant with #2, and we've been lucky that kid #1 has always been pretty easy. I don't take credit for it for a second, it's mostly just how he is (I mean, he's 4 and he REQUESTS bedtime -- what preschooler does that??). If kid #2 winds up being the wild child it's going to be an adjustment, that's for sure! But maybe I'll be lucky and she'll be even sweeter than her brother. We can all dream, right? ;)

Suzy Q · Answer

Guys, while I appreciate the answers, the picky eating is just an example. Both his doctor and I think it will sort itself out sooner or later as long as I keep offering healthy food. After all he's hardly the first picky toddler ever.

This is a more lighthearted question about your experiences. Have you ever thought you had THE answer to a common parenting issue, tempted to tell other parents "oh, I just do this, always works" only to be proven wrong by the next child that comes along?

(For some reason it's not letting me add details to the question.)

callenandsaminatree · Answer

All children are different. The best you can do is to keep encouraging him to eat healthy. There is no set 'right way' to raise a child. Different methods may be required. One way could be to try and make it fun or turn it into a game. If your worried talk to your doctor or health specialist. They could recommend different methods or refer you to someone who could.

mokrie · Answer

The second child has too many choices to be picky with. If it was "eat what I put in front of you or you go hungry" it would change fast.

Trending News

Have you ever thought you found just the right way to raise a child?

5 Answers