Friday, July 12, 2013

Food Frustration

I don't know if it is possible to express the frustration that comes when a child is crying because she is hungry.  For a peach, which you have.  Which is cut, as requested, and placed in front of her.
And will not be eaten because...she's hungry.  And in tears.  Begging for a peach.  Which is in front of her.  Which she says she'd like to eat but she can't.

And everyone hates her.
Why can't she have a peach?

Doctor after doctor has talked with me.  We've discussed how she shouldn't be subjected to a limited diet.  She shouldn't have to put up with bland, distasteful food.  That I need to make sacrifices in my beliefs or maybe my needs.  That my symptoms probably won't be that bad, and parents make sacrifices, and my daughter needs to eat.  That I can't punish her by making her go hungry if she chooses not to eat.  That as a parent my responsibility is to feed my daughter, to find food and calories that will satisfy her.

So what do I do when I have what she wants and serve it up to her in the 'right' dish, in the 'right' way, looking all nice and pretty and it's perfectly ripe...and she breaks down in tears because all she wants is the peach that's sitting in front of her waiting to be eaten?

And for that matter...is pizza bread (crust topped with red sauce, onions, garlic, spices, and spinach) with turkey burgers and salad really that horrible of a meal?

1 comment:

Evelyn Chua said...

My heart bleeds with pain as I read this. As a mother I feel your pain. I hope that you will be able to find a doctor that will truly understand the struggles and battles that you all face and not condemn and suggest that you are imagining all this. Much love and hugs and prayers from us over here. I understand, truly.