It requires some give and take on my part. That means if Lizzy shows up wearing a party dress, tiara and pink sparkle leg warmers over Rainbow Dash leggings, I go with it. It also means if they don't help pack their lunches then I get to stick in whatever I want. That means bagged carrots, a yogurt tube and an Uncrustable. It's happened once to each of them and they've wizened up pretty quickly.
We stopped printing out what they are serving at school since both are pretty reluctant to eat what they are serving in the cafeteria. What we do for school lunches is a whole other post....
At first blush this picture of breakfast seems pretty mundane, boring even. Look closer.
Can you see that each kiddo has their own electronic? Each child is eating a different breakfast?
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The baby is eating scrambled eggs, Lizzy is working on Nutella and bread and Alex is working on "grandma style" pancakes. That translates to homemade pancakes with a shit-ton of dark chocolate chips in them. Specifically Ghirardelli large chips, 65% cocoa.
See how I've not yet managed to get drinks or silverware on the counter yet? And I've given the environment the middle finger and they're all eating on paper plates?
My sacrifice to keeping the calm in the morning is to let them use their i-things while eating so they all quit yelling/arguing/shoving each other long enough to pile in some breakfast.
The kids and I have come to an agreement, a truce if you will. My son presented a solution for the three of them: They get to play their electronics and agree to quit hassling me long enough so I can get a cup of coffee in.
It's a compromise. A negotiation. A life skill in bartering in which we all win.
Never in a million years did I think I'd be negotiating 'coffee time' with my eight year old child. Honestly, I think he had it all figured out before he came down to breakfast that morning.
And my boy runs a pretty hard bargain.
They get their electronics, food of their choice and paper plates. I get my coffee.
I'm happy with the deal I made.
Note: Tuesday I'll be at SPD Network talking about our OT Room. Please spread the word if this would help anyone you may know.
And I put links to the Uncrustables and chocolate so you know what they are. I have some friends over-seas who may not know what I'm talking about. The links are informational only.
And here I thought you were peddling uncrustables and chocolates... how much of a cut do you get anyway?
ReplyDeleteI totally hear you on the compromises. Heck, we got the compromise of the century when we moved Little Miss's bed into our room... you get to be close to mommy and daddy and mommy gets to sleep more than 2 hours at a time.
Those kids sure do know how to negotiate!
No cut on the mentions, I just didn't want some people all, WTF is she talking about!
DeleteI'd do just about anything for sleep and coffee--in that order. If you're getting sleep then it's a bargain in my mind. A BARGAIN!
This seems much more peaceful than listening to Spongebob on tv!
ReplyDeleteICK, my kids never got into Spongebob. They do love Phineas and Ferb. I'm not sure what's worse.....
Deletei think its a great deal!! im for "whatever works to maintain sanity!" I see 3 children, eating together, and behaving. I think that's pretty great :)
ReplyDeletePaper plates!! I could not live without them. Truly. They have kept me from suicide. Homemade pancakes with those chips? Alex is brilliant. So - you make those breakfasts and you drink coffee? Just coffee right? Oh, the suffering we mamas endure. By the way, I'll be over for breakfast tomorrow with the Baileys for that coffee but I expect pancakes, just leave out the batter and give me the chips on a paper plate. ;)
ReplyDeleteNo, I eat the pancakes too. I think thats why I run---so I can eat. Haha! I'll take that Baileys....and just for you, I'll have a plate of chocolate out!
DeleteSince it takes my kid about 30 minutes to get his ass dressed, he's usually eating a cereal bar, banana, or some such portable item in the morning.
ReplyDeleteGeesh, they're all dressed and sitting there eating, so that is one awesome magic trick.
It might help if I didn't oversleep most mornings, right?
Right. I used to sleep in and now I'm up at the ass-crack of dawn. I don't know why. That trick involved many veiled threats and removal of all electronics if they didn't come down dressed. One morning I blew a fuse and refused to dress an 8 and 6 year old. Honestly, I think that memory still haunts them....
DeleteI think that's a great bargain. For morning coffee, I've been tempted to just hand over car keys. Granted, Ellie's only four, but life is all about important choices.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that....anything for a moment's peace in the morning...
DeleteI am in deep thought...and not sure where I would start.
ReplyDeleteMY house is a battle field in the morning.
And I see sunshine streaming past the door in this picture.
Total disbelief.
IKEA brochure... must be
it is always sunny in Sweden and the kids look cute.
We still have battles....I'm not even willing to tackle getting them all out the door and in the car!
DeleteLife's all about compromises. But Smuckers can shove those Uncrustables where the sun don't shine. They are the bane of my existence right now and the reason my school doesn't understand "contact allergy." They are the 3rd lunch choice every.single.day.
ReplyDeleteOurs does the same thing and is "peanut free" but still offers them at lunch. I don't get it....they divide tables with peanut free/peanut sides but really??? I don't think it's enough.
DeleteThis is pretty much the same scene at my house for every meal. My kids even sit at their own kiddie table. After awhile you give up fighting some battles and realize everyone is happier if you just let some family expectations go.
ReplyDeleteYour kids all eat at the same time? AND at the Table? You're way more organized than we are!
ReplyDeletekids are friggin' BRUTAL negotiators.
ReplyDeleteWhatever works is right.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you get coffee, I would say that this was a great compromise!
ReplyDeleteI don't think we have uncrusteds here, and I'm still not sure what it is even after looking at the pic--is it a JAM POCKET??
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, I am 100% behind you on the coffee negotiations. I HAVE to have my coffee when all is calm, and NOBODY can bug me, so I wait till after I get my guy to school. And then my daughter must GO AWAY and watch cartoons or play with monster high dolls or whatever the freak she wants to do, but most importantly: they all have to GO AWAY.
It's a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the crust chopped off. I wish How Its Made would show how they are made....Alex would die if they showed that!!!
Deleteahhh love this
ReplyDeleteyour kids are sooo cute and clever
I too have a very wide definition of what constitutes breakfast food. As long as it's not chocolate cake, it's probably ok by me.
ReplyDeleteThere are times where I have given them chocolate cake and Nutty Bars.....
DeleteHa, yes, I let the kids mess with my iPod Touch in the morning so I can get some peace.
ReplyDeleteI must be an old softie cos I was really hoping for a pic of lizzie in the sparkly stuff. And our breakfast table looks similar *hides* . How else would I get on twitter?
ReplyDeleteOK, so you know when we're on the Twitter that is exactly what my house looks like---all three kids plugged in. And I can come up with Lizzy all glittered up and in fairy wings, that's easy...I'm seeing a wordless wednesday post here!
DeleteI'd been poo pooing the twins bringing electronic gadgets to the meal table since I figured it would distract them from eating, but you know what--- you've convinced me to give it a try---- it might calm mealtime down a bit....
ReplyDeleteI do it as a last resort and AFTER they come down with clothes on and lunches packed. Its kinda a reward for good behavior! PM me if you want info on apps or how I use our I-things.
DeleteHey-I'm a paper plate kind of woman too...and negotiating for coffee-brilliant! For without it-you might wind up wearing the rainbow dash leggings...by accident of course...right?
ReplyDelete